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COPYRIGHT DEPOSIT. 




THE WITNESS FOR THE 
DEFENCE 



THE WITNESS FOR 
THE DEFENCE 

A PLAY IN FOUR ACTS 



^^y 



ifEfVr^i 



ArET W: MASON 



Copyright, 1913, bv Samuel Fremch, Limlted 



New York 
SAMUEL FRENCH 
Publisher 
5-30 WEST 38TH STREET 



London 
SAMUEL FRENCH, Ltd 

26 Southampton Street 
STRAND 



r 






n 



©CID 33156 



THE WITNESS FOR THE DEFENCE 



CAST OF CHARACTERS 



Henry Thresk 

Stephen Ballantyne 

Harold Hazlewogd 

Richard Hazlewood 

Robert Pettifer . 

Hubbard 

Baram Singh . 

A Servant 

Stella Ballantyne 

Mrs. Pettifer 



Mr. George Alexander. 
Mr. Lyston Lyle. 
Mr. Alfred Bishop. 
Mr. Leslie Faber 
Mr. Sydney Valentine. 
Mr. E. Vivian Reynolds 
Mr. G. Trevor Roller. 
Mr. F. Arundel. 
Miss Ethel Irving. 
Miss Marie Linden. 



Produced at St. James' Theatre, Wednesday, February i, 1911 
at 8 p.m. 



The Fee for each and every representation of this 
play by Amateurs is Five Guineas, payable in advance 
to:— 

Messrs. Samuel French, Limited, 

26, Southampton Street, Strand, London, 

or their authorized agents, who will issue a written 
permission for the performance to take place. No 
representation may be given unless this permission 
has first been obtained. 

All costumes, wigs and properties used in the plays 

pubHshed by Messrs. Samuel French, Limited, may 

be hired or purchased reasonably from Messrs. Charles 

H. Fox, Limited, 27, Wellington Street, Strand, 
London. 



SYNOPSIS OF SCENERY 

ACT I. 

A Tent in Rajputana. 

ACT II. 

Scene i. The Library. 
Scene 2. The Same. 

ACTS III &> IV. 
Same Scene as Act II. 



SPECIAL NOTES FOR ACT I 



On Scene. 

Rifle against l. arm of sofa, 
letters on desk up l. 
Whip on bureau l. 
Cigar box on ^bureau l. 
Matches and ash tray on 

bureau l. 
Diajatchcase.-v 

Photograph j ir. bottom 
in seated! J- drawer of 
envelope inj bureau l. 
it, locked ' 
Matches and asli tray on 

sidetx)ard R. 
Cigarette case filled on side- 
board R. 
Whisky. syplion, claret, 
glasses (2) on sideboard r. 
Bread and serviettes on 

table c. 
Cartridges in box in drawer 

of sideboard r. 
Stick and canvas off l. 
Whistle behind back cloth. 
Red signal hght on at back. 
AH lights blacked out. 



Hajntd Props. 

Revolver }BaUantyne. 

Tsdbacco f Thresk. 
Matches 7 
(Necklace— -Sletla. 





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THE WITNESS FOR THE DEFENCE 

{Plays 26 minutes) 

ACT I 

Scene.— TA^ interior of alarge teni. Outside through 
the doorway is seen a plain in the moonlight. A 
railway crosses the plain. The signal lights of a 
station are visible. Beyond the plain dim hills. 
^ The doorway of the tent is at the hack r. To the left 
. of the doorway against the hack wall a couch, against 
which the rook-rifle is leaning. Lefc of the couch 
Stella's 'writing- table with chair. Against the left 
wall of this tent Ballantyne's bureau with chair. 
A box of cheroots and a riding crop on the top of the 
bureau. Below the bureau a clear space. In the 
centre a round table laid for dinner for three people. 

Drop curtain over entrance. . 

Ballantyne enters from the back. He pauses on 

the threshold and peers round the teni. Then he 

comes R. down to the tantalus and mixes a whisky 

and soda. He is a little the worse for drink already 

and though he can walk and speak without much 

stumbling, he is nervous and at times he has the 

look of a man haunted with terror. As he stands 

' now drinking he pauses and suddenly swiitgs round 

. as if he expected to be attacked. He lifts again the 

• tumbler to his lips Over the rim of it he looks suddenly 

11 



12 THE WITNESS FOR THE DEFENCE.^^ 

towards the lower entrance r. and becomes rigid. 
Then sharply and in fear. 

Ballantyne (r. of table c). Who's that ? (Stella 
enters l.) Oh ! It's you ! 

Stella. Has the mail come ? {Comes c, then 
7{p L. TO bureau.) 

Ballantyne. Yes. Damn you, why can't you 
walk like a Christian ? You go sliding stealthily 
about — it gets on my nerves, I tell you. 

Stella. Perhaps you would like me to carry a 
bell and ring it wherever I go. 

Ballantyne. Don't be a fool ! I am not asking 
you to do anything so ridiculous. But I won't have 
people creeping and creeping about me — creeping 
to take me unawares. 

Stella {pointing to tumbler). Can't you leave that 
alone ? 

Ballantyne. Oh, it's the drink, is it ? Bosh ! 

(Ballantyne goes to cabinet r., puts down glass, 
gets cigarette from case.) 

Stella. You are expecting some one ? {Looking 
at table.) 

Ballantyne. A tourist doing Rajputana. 

Stella. To-night ? 

Ballantyne. Yes. He left a letter of intro- 
duction for me at the Residency in Chitipur yester- 
day. {Lights cigarette, comes and sits in armchair 
R. Stella opens and reads letters.) It reached me 
half an hour ago. He had twenty- four hours, not a 
moment longer — the usual thing. His train reaches 
Jarwhal Junction in a few minutes, and as he has 
two hours to wait for the Bombay Mail I have sent 
a camel to fetch him out here to dinner. {A ii)histle 
in the distance is heard.) There's his train. Yes. 
You don't seem overjoyed, Stella, at the prospect 
of a visitor. 

Stella. I am not. I expect to pass an evening 
of humiHation. 



THE WITNESS FOR THE DEFENCE. 13: 

Ballantyne. Oh, what do you mean ? 

Stella. It's not very pleasant to be baited before 
a stranger for your amusement. It's not very com- 
fortable either for the stranger. And I don't see why 
after all it should amuse you so much. For it's 
easy to do. 

Ballantyne. Yes, my dear. You do curl up, 
don't vou, Stella ? Repartee isn't your strong point,, 
is it ?" 

Stella. No, I have no answers. I am driven 
into silence. I think, too, that if I had answers, I 
am rather too tired of it all to use them. 

Ballantyne. Martyr ! {Rises, goes up r., then 
to settee at hack : sits L. of it.) Well, I should have 
thought that you would have found anything prefer- 
able to a quiet evening alone with me. We are not 
what could be called a cheery, family party. I love 
tourists. I like to hear 'em talking. I never listened 
to a tourist yet but he eventually kindled in me some 
faint glimmer of self-respect. Tourists' talk is the 
one thing I know which completely fills the definition 
of a geometrical Hne. It is length without breadth. 
And this fellow ought to be a champion. He can 
just give twenty- four hours to Chitipur. So kind 
of him. {Knocks over with his elbow the little rook 
rifle. He springs up with a cry of agitation.) What's 
that ? Oh, it's your infernal popgun. Damn you, 
what's it doing here? {Picks up rifle.) 

Stella. I mean to take it out to-morrow. I 
haven't used it for a year. I brought it in here to 
see that it was clean. 

Ballantyne {comes down, puts cigarette in ash tray 
on bureau l. ; comes to l. lower end of table c, examines 
rifle). I hear you are quite a good shot, Stella — a 
regular Nimrod in petticoats. Baram Singh tells 
me you allow no back talk from the rabbits ; and 
that when you go out with this in your hand there 
isn't a chicken safe within a radius of twenty yards, 
eh ? (Stella goes r., does not answer.) You're not 



14 THE WITNESS FOR THE DEFENCE. 

:n V, hat ccvk\ te called a ccnversaticral rrccd, are 
veil, rry dtar ? It's a pity \gu are so clever with a 

life, ien't it. Steiia ? Otheiwisc [Ccm.fig c.) 

Stella. Well ? {Ccming dcun r.c.) 

Ballantyne. Otherwise I might cne day have 
a bit of luck, eh ? 

Stella. I might shoot myself. 

Ballantyne {i-akes rifle and props it up against 
lower end of bureau l.). Oh, why cross all the t's 
and dot the i's ? {He moves to her.) Come here ! 
{She recoils. He points a shaking finger at her throat.) 
What are those marks ? 

Stella. Your fingers made them. 

Ballantyne. Oh! W>11, you are a damned 
provoking woman. Go and cover your throat. 

Stella. I won't. 

Ballantyne. Oh, won't you ? {Seizing Stella's 
left wrist with his r. hand.) 

Stella. No !• 

Ballantyne. If I had my way, I'd lock you up 
behind a Purdah hke a Rajput. ^^1 

Stella. Yes, and like a Rajput kill me too. 

Ballantyne. Fairy tales ! {Throws Stella's 
hand down : it comes into contact with revolver in 
Ballantyne's r. pocket.) 

Stella. What have vou got there — in your 
pocket ? 

Ballantyne. Here ? A revolver. {Movement of 
fear from Stella. Ballantyne takes revolver out 
of his pocket.) You needn't be afraid. There's 
some one lurking about the camp. 

Stella. There's no one. 

Ballantyne. There is. I have known it for the 
last two days. Some one — it may be one of our 
servants — some one watching for his opportunity. 

Stella. An opportunity — for what ? 

Ballantyne. Never mind ; I know. 

Stella {putting her hands on Ballantyne's arms). 
Don't carry that, Stephen. You never did before. 



THE WITNESS FOR THE DEFENCE- 15 

Lock it away ! There's no need for it. There's no 
one watching ; no one lurking ! 

Ball.antyne. There is ! there is ! And — I am 
afraid. Yes. Terribly afraid. 

Stella. So cm I now ; terribly afraid. {Backs 
slightly.) 

Ballant\ne. Ah ! 

Stella. Yes ; look at my throat ! You had 
only your hands then ! Suppose that you had had 
that revolver in your pocket. 

Ballantyne. Nonsense. Because I once 

Stella. Once ! {Crosses l. and up to l. top of 
table c.) 

Ballantyne {crosses to sideboard r., puts revolver 
on top end : come to r. top of table c). Well — you're 
a damned provoking woman. Even now you stand 
here provoking me. Go and cover those marks. I 
should have thought you might have found pride 
and spirit enough somewhere to do that without being 
told. 

Stella. Fride ! Spirit ! ! {Up to desk.) 

Ballantyne. Very well. I'll grant they are 
impossible. {To above table c.) I'll grant marriage 
with me makes them impossible. I don't care what 
>ou think. But I won^t have you parading a bruised 
threat before the man who's coming here. 

Stella. Why so sensitive ? 

Ballantyne. He's going to write a book. He's 
staying twenty-four hours in Chitipur. Of course 
he's going to write a book. I don't mean your bruises 
to fgure in a chapter en the Domestic Life of an 
Indian Official. Go and hide them ! ( Up to Stella.) 

Stella. No. 

Ballanty^ne. You shall ! {Seizing her r. arm.) 

(Baram Singh appears at the entrance c. from r. 
Drops curtain, salaams.) 

Bara:.: {hcldz curtain back). Huzoor, Sahib Ahgya. 



16 THE WITNESS FOR THE DEFENCE. 

(Ballantyne drops Stellas hand, turns.) 
{Enter Thresk, c. from R., hai in hand.) 

Thresk. You will excuse me for not dressing. 
I am on my way home, and except for the few things 
I need for the journey I have had all my luggage 
directed straight to Bombay. 

Ballantyne (shakes hands with Thresk. Baram 
Singh exits r.u.e.). Of course. That's all right. 
(Stella comes down l.c.) This is my wife, Mr. 
Thresk. Stella ! (Thresk comes down r.c.) 

(Stella at the sound of Thresk's voice starts. She 
covers her throat with her hand. Shakes hands 
with Thresk.) 

Stella. We are in camp, you see, Mr. Thresk. 
(Ballantyne comes down r. to above armchair.) 
You must just take us as we are. You have not 
very much time. I will see that dinner is served 
at once. 

Thresk. Oh, please, Mrs. Ballantyne. I have 
time enough. (Stella goes r. and off r.l. Thresk 
goes L.) 

Ballantyne. Besides, that's not the way. {To 
Thresk.) You'll have a cocktail? {Calls.) Quai 
hai ! {Enter Baram Singh, r.u.) Cocktail. Oh, 
he has them. (Baram Singh offers one to Thresk, 
who takes it. Thresk puts his hat on settee up c. 
Then brings tray to Ballantyne.) No, no. I never 
touch them. And we'll have dinner at once. Kharna 
Chow. Geldi ! ^ 

{Exit Baram Singh, r.u.e.) 

Thresk. You don't take cocktails ? 

Ballantyne. No. Cocktails are all very well for 
you who are here during a cold weather. But we 
who make our home here, we have to be careful. 

Thresk. I suppose so. 



H 



Kharna, etcl Bring the food. Be quick 



THE WITNESS FOR THE DEFENCE. 17 

{Enter Baram Singh and another Servant, r.u.e. 
Baram Singh puts soup plates, on table to Thresk 
and Ballantyne. Servant to Stella. Servants 
stand up at hack up R.) 

Ballantyne. Why, dinner's actually punctual. 
The most astonishing thing. And here's Stella. 
(Stella enters r.l. She wears now a necklace.) 
Let us sit down at once. {To Stella.) So you 
have come to your senses, I see. {To Thresk.) 
Will you sit here, Mr. Thresk ? You are not staying 
very long ? 

Thresk. No, I have to get back, worse luck. 
I am at the Bar, you see. 

(Baram Singh and Servant go to sideboard r. Singh 
gets claret and whisky; serxant syphon.) 

Ballantyne. Oh ! In Parhament, too -^ 

Thresk. Yes. 

Ballantyne. Then you're not necessarily in 
search of local colour? 

Thresk. I am not writing a book. 

Ballantyne. Not writing a book ! God bles^ 
my soul ! Do you hear that, Stella ? 

Thresk. " Six weeks from door to door, or how 
I made an ass of myself in India." (Singh pours 
claret out for Stella, then comes above Thresk.) 
No, thank you. 

Ballantyne. Aren't you setting rather a danger- 
ous precedent ? 

Thresk. Yes, but it won't be followed. 

Ballantyne. By the way, what will you drink ? 
Our cellar is rather limited in camp. There's some 
claret, and some whisky and soda. 

Thresk. Whisky and soda for me, please. 

Ballantyne. And for me, too. (Singh pours 
out whisky for Thresk ; servant syphon. Singh 
pours out whisky for Ballantyne ; servant syphon. 
To Baram Singh.) But very little whisky, mmd. 

B 



18 



THE WITNESS FOR THE DEFENCE. 



What will you take, Stella ? Oh, I see you have 
some claret. There is too much whisky here for me. 



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Stella. So you are going straight from Jarwhal 
Junction to Bomba3/, and at Bombay you are going 
straight on board. 

Thresk. Yes. Have you been home lately ? 

Stella. Not for six years. 

Thresk. Not ^ince your marriage, then ? 

Ballantyne. How did you know that we had 
been m.arried six years ? 

Thresk. Some one told me so in Bombay. 

Ballantyne. Oii ! Told you anything else ? 

Thresk. Yes. That you had been Resident at 
Bakuta in the Bombay Presidency before you came 
to Chitipur. 

Ballantyne. Told you anything else ? 

Thresk. Why do you ask ? 
Ballantyne. Oh, it's always interesting to hear 
the nice — kind — damnable things one's friends say 
about one behind one's back. This is too strong 
for me. 

{Goes to tantalus, and pours ichisky into his tumbler.) 

{Se/vant and Baram Singh collect plates and exit 
servant.) 

Stella (to Thresk). So you'll be in England in 
fifteen days. How's London ? 



I 



(Ballantyne returns to chair.) 



THE WITNESS FOR THE DEFENCE. 19 

Ballantyne. What ? Are you talking, Stella ? 
Do let me hear what you said. I missed it. 

Stella. It wasn't of any importance. 

Ballantyne. Oh, my dear, you do yourself an 
injustice. , It must have been extraordinarily inter- 
esting. What was it ? (Sits.) 

Stella. 1 only said, how's London ? 

{Servant lays plates to Stella, Ballantyne, 
Thresk, exits and returns with vegetables.) 

Ballantyne. Did you say that ? How's 
London ? Now why did you ask how London 
was ? How should London be ? What sort of an 
answer did you expect ? 

(Singh hanJs chicken. Stella, Thresk, 
Ballantyne.) 

Stella. I didn't expect any answer. Of course 
the question sounds stupid, if you drag it out and 
worry it. 

Ballantyne. How's London ? Try again, Stella I 

Thresk. It does not seem to me an unnatural 
question for any woman to ask who has not been to 
London for six years. 

Ballantyne. Really. It wouldn't occur to me. 
I hope, to ask it. 

Thresk. I said for any woman. 

{He realizes now that Ballantyne is drunk.) 

Ballantyne. Oh ! 

Thresk. After all, say what you like, for women 
India means exile. 

(Servant hands vegetables round in same order.) 

Stella. We need next-door neighbours. 

(Singh exits r.u.e.) 

Ballantyne So that you may pull their gowns 
to pieces and unpick their moral characters. Never 



20 THE WITNESS FOR THE DEFENCE. 

mind, Stella. The time'll come when we shall settle 
down to domestic bliss at Camberley on twopence- 
halfpenny a year. You must look forward to that. 
How's London ? A lot of London we'll be able to 
afford !• God, what a Hfe ! Breakfast, lunch and 
dinner ; dinner, breakfast, lunch — all amongst the 
next-door neighbours. Give me Rajputana ! {He 
rouses himself.) You can stretch yourself here. I 
like getting away into camp — on the plain out in 
the jungle — alone. No one to spy on you — no one 
to carry tales — no next-door neighbours. How's 
London ? {Takes vegetables.) 

(Thresk about to reply angrily. Stella warns him 
not to.) 

Thresk. That's the point of view of the man who 
has work to do ! 

Ballantyne. What did she marry me for then ? 
Oh, I know it doesn't suit Stella. Stella's so sociable. 
Stella wants parties. Stella likes frocks. Stella 
loves to hang herself about with beads, don't you, 
my dear ? ( With a sudden movement Stella tears 
the necklace from her throat, drops it on table.) What 
did 3'ou do that for ? 

(Servant exits r.u.e.) 

Stella. You told me to wear them — I wore 
them. You jeer at me for wearing them, so I take 
them off. 

Ballantyne. Til talk to you about that after- 
wards. 

Thresk. Why did he tell you to wear them ? 

Stella. Because {She breaks down, covers her 

face with her hands and cries.) Oh, really, you must 
forgive me for making a scene, and about nothing 
too, absolutely nothing. I am fooHsh. These last 
days have been rather hot — specially hot— and after 
six years in India a woman can't be accountable 
for her nerves. That's my only excuse. There's 



THE WITNESS FOR THE DEFENCE. 21 

no reason. I (Rise) think I'll leave you for a little 
while. My head aches. {As Stell.\ rises, Thresk 
rises .and comes below table.) I can leave you — to get 
along together alone. You know what women are, 
don't you ? [Goes r. a little.) Stephen will tell you 
interesting things about India if you can get him to 
talk. I shall see you before you go, {To Ballan- 
TVNE.) I'm sorry. 

(Stella exits r.l.e.) 

Ballantyne. T am afraid Stella's not well. 
{Pause.) You mustn't make too much of this little 
scene. 
Thresk. I couldn't. {Up to his chair, sits.) 
Ballantyne. Why don't you say straight out 
that I'm a brute to my wife. That's what you're 
thinking. 

Thresk. Well, perhaps I am — but 

Ballantyne. Well, I'll tell you the truth. I 
am not master of myself, I am afraid. {He peers 
round the tent.) They make these tents too large. 
One great blot of light in the middle and all round 
in the corners, shadows. We sit here in the blot of 
light — a fair mark. {Leans fonvard to Thresk.) 
But what's going on in the shadows, Mr. What's- 
your-name ? "^ Eh ? Eh ? What's going on in the 
shadows ? 
Thresk. I, too, would like to know that. 

(Servant enters with vegetables. Singh enters with 
chicken.) 

Ballantyne. You are going away to-night. 
You can do me a service. In return I'll give you a 
glance into an India you don't know. {Looks Mp 
and sees servants.) 

Ballantyne. We'll finish dinner ftrst. 

(Singh hands chicken to Thresk.) 
Thresk. Nothing more for me, thanks. 



22 THE WITNESS FOR THE DEFEN'CE. 

Ballantyne. Nor me. [Waving servant away.) 
( Ballantyne goes up r. to c. opening, pulls curtain 
hack.) Look, there's tourist India. A plain, a railway 
station, and a deserted city, palaces and hovels and 
temples, the whole bag of tricks crumbling slowly 
to ruin through centuries, on the top of a hill. 
That's what you come out for to see in the cold 
w^eather. J arwhal Junction and old Chitipur. {Lets 
curtains drop and returns to tent above table.) But 
bless your soul here's the real India. 

Thresk. I see. A place very badly Ht, a great blot 
of light in the centre and all around it dark corners 
and grim shadows. 

Ballantyne. Ah, you have learnt that ? Well, 
you shall look into the shadows. We will have the 
table cleared first. Hai jou ! \M11 you smoke ? 
{Rises, goes r.) 

{Enter servant with tray r.u.e. Enter Si^gh; clears 
table, putting things on tray. Servant exits r.u.e. ; 
Singh follows with serviettes.) 

TiiRESK. A pipe if I may. {Servants exeunt with 
dishes r.u.e.) 
Ballantyne. All right. A match ? 
Thresk. I have one. 

Ballantyne. Now where are the keys ? (Bal- 
lantyne goes to bureau L. sits, takes key from chain in 
waistcoat pocket, opens lower drawer. He feels in his 
popket. Lifts the despatch box from lower drawer of 
bureau and places it on the ground. He stoops and is 
about to unlock box as Baram Singh re-enters. Singh 
has ash tray and crumb scoop ani brush, brushes table- 
cloth, takes it off, leaving necklace ani ash tray on 
table.) Geldi, Geldi ! ^ (Baram Singh goes out again, 
R.u. and lets down blind ove:^ entrance r.u.e. Bal- 
lantyne again stoop's towards despatch box. His 
face becomes set. A look of terror conies into his face. 
He snatches up his riding crop and with a scream 

^ G§ldi means Be quick ! 



THE WITNESS FOR THE DEFENCE. 23 

strikes at the floor between the box and the lent wall.) 
Did you see ? Did you sec ? 

Thresk. What ? There was nothing- to see. 

Ballantyne. An arm, a hand thrust under the 
tent there reaching out tor this case. 

(Thresk fills pipe and lights it.) 

Thresk. No. 

Ballantyne. A lean brown arm, a l^vad delicate 
as a woman's. 

Thresk. You are dreaming. 

(Ballantyne rises, brings box over to table, goes r. 
Picks up revolver from sideboard.) 

Ballantyne. Dreaming. Hold that ! {Point- 
ing to case, he runs up to door.) Don't leave it ! 
Stay here ! Don't even let go ! Baram Singh !• 

[He runs out calling for servants. Baram Singh and 

seroant come out of upper entrance hurriedly and 

exeunt through the opening. The dialogue between 

y^ Ballantyne and Baram is spoken outside the tent. 

l^ Thresk stands in doubt. At the side of tent, the 

tent wall is shaken. Thresk stands still.) 

yj /^allantyne {shouts off). Nahur koc chor aya 
/|»7.yhoga ! 

"^^ Baram. Nay, Sahib, koe admi malum nay dcta. 
y Ballantyne. No one ? Hai beshuk hai ! Scatter, 
search, Jakur, decko. 
Servant. Koe budmash nay hai. Sahib. 

(Canvas beaten with a stick off l. Ballantyne re- 
enters. He is trembling. He closes door of tent. 
He utters a groan. He goes to tantalus and drinks a 
strong whisky plain; puts revolver down.) 

y^A^yanslation — 

^ Ballantyne. There's a thief about here. 

Baram. No. There's no strangers about. 

Ballantyne. No one. There is I tell you. Jakur, 
decko = scatter, search. 

Servant. There's no robber he re, Sir. 



24 THE WITNESS FOR THE DEFENCE. 

'Ballantyne. Now you must help me. You are 
going straight to England, eh ? [Coming r. of table.) 

Thresk. Yes. 

Ballantyne. Good. {He looks at the tent zvall.) 
It's just there the arm came through. And he has 
given us the shp. 

Thresk. There was no arm. 

Ballantyne. But I saw it, man ! I saw it. 
{Turns chair round facing audience, sits. Thresk 
brings chair'' L. of table down a little, sits.) Come ! 
(Ballantyne opens despatch box, takes out a sealed 
envelope.) Look ! {He breaks open the envelope 
and takes out photograph.) You have heard of Baha- 
dur Salak ? 

Thresk. The affair at Umballa, the riots at 
Benares, the murder in Madras ! 

Ballantyne. That's the fellow. The middle 
one. {Hands photograph to Thresk, who takes it; 
points out figure.) 

Thresk. A clever face. 

Ballantyne. He's a Mahratta Brahman from 
Poona. They are the fellows for brains', and Salak' s 
the cleverest of them. The most dangerous brain 
in" India. We have all known for years that he worked 
the strings of sedition. But we could never lay our 
hands on him. 

Thresk. But he's caught now. He's in gaol 
waiting his trial at Calcutta. 

Ballaj^tyne. Yes. 

Thresk. You have got him. 

Ballantyne. Perhaps. 

Thresk {turns photograph over). I see the photo- 
graph was taken at Poona. 

Ballantyne. Yes, ten years ago. But he was 
at the same game then. You have got the proof in 
your hand. 

Thresk. The photograph ? 

Ballantyne. Yes ; there's a group of nine men. 
Salalf and his eight friends. Well, every man jack 



THE WITNESS FOR THE DEFENCE. 25 

of the eight is now doing time for burglary. And 
why ? Because Salak wanted money to finance his 
intrigues. That's how he got it. 

Thresk. Then this photograph is a valuable 
thing to have ? 

Ballantyne. It's a mighty dangerous thing to 
have. It's the only one in existence. There's Salak 
amongst burglars.^ And the negative has been 
destroyed. So Salak's friends are naturally anxious 
to get it back. 

Thresk. Do they know you have it ? 

Ballantyne. Of course they do. You had 
proof that they know, when that brown arm wriggled 
in under the tent like a snake. (Rises.) For a 
moment I thought it was one. 

Thresk (shrugs his shoulders). How do you come 
to possess it ? 

Ballantyne. The Rajah of Bakuta gave it to 
me when I leit his State. (Sits.) , He came down 
to the station to see me oft. He was too near Poona 
to be comfortable with that in his Palace. He gave 
it to me on the platform in full view. The damned 
coward. He wanted to show that he had given it 
to me. He asked me to keep it. He said I should 
be safe with it at Chitipur. 

Thresk. Chitipur's a long way from Poona. 

Ballantyne. A devil of a long way, but not 
enough of a long way. With this trial coming on 
in Calcutta, I go in danger of my life so long as I 
have that picture in my possession. 

Thresk. Why don't you destroy it ? (Throws 
photograph on table.) 

Ballantyne. Yes. I ask myself that. (Picks 
up photograph.) But I can't. That's to own these 
fellows my masters, and I won't. By God I won't. 
I may be every kind of brute, but I have been bred 
up in this service. For twenty years i have lived 
in it. And the service is too strong for me. No, 
I can't destroy it. 



26 THE WITNESS FOR THE DEFENCE. 

Thresk. Well, what do you want me to do ? 
[Change red signal at hack to blue.) 

Ballantyxe. You are going straight back to 
England. I want you to take it with you out of 
Chitipur. You'll be safe with it. When you get 
home you can give it to the big-wigs at the India 
Ofhce. {Puts photograph on table.) 

Thresk. All right. I'll take it. {Picks up photo- 
graph.) 

Ballantyne. Thank you ! {Takes photograph 
out o/Thresk's hand.) I'd better go with j^ou to the 
railway station. I'll give it you there. 

Thresk. As the Rajah gave it to you ? I see 
it's true. 

Ballantyne. What ? 

Thresk. That all bullies are cowards too. 

Ballantyne. What the devil do you mean ? 

Thresk. Why talk to me like that ? I am not 
your wife. Besides, I am going to take your photo- 
graph. And I'll take it at the railway station. 

Ballantyne. No, take it now ! {Throws photo- 
graph on table. Thresk picks it up and puts it in 
his pocket.) It's evident you don't know much about 
India. {Locks case.) I have only got to leave this 
case unlocked for a night, it'll be known I haven't 
got it any more, quicker than you could wire the news. 

{Enter Baram Singh, c, drops curtain, salaams) 

Baram. Huzoor ! Railgharri hai. 

Ballantyne. Your train is signalled. 

Thresk. Oh, is it ? (Baram exits r.c.) 

Ballantyne {rising). It's all right. I have sent 
word that it is not to start without you. I'll go and 
see that your camel is ready. Stella ! Stella ! 
Mr. Thresk is going ! 

{He goes out c. Thresk knocks ash into ash tray. 
Stella enters r.l.e. They stand looking at one 
another.) 



THE WITNESS FOR THE DEFENCE. 27 

Stella. Why did you come ? {Below chair r.) 

Thresk {comes forward towards STella). I was in 
I ndia. I had heard that when your father and mother 
died some friends had taken 3^ou out to India. I 
asked for news of you in Bombay. I heard that you 
were at Chitipur — married. I was in doubt whether 
to come. I am glad that I did come. 

Stella. And I am sorry. {Sits in chair r.) 

Thresk. Why? {Draws chair from r. of table, sits.) 

Stella. You mustn't think I wasn't glad to see 
you. I was — at the first moment I was very glad. I 
could not help it. All the years rolled away. I 
remembered the Sussex Downs the day we rode from 
Arundel to Cocking and saw the Roman road, and 
across far hills the spire of Chichester. How long 
was that ago ? 

Thresk. Seven years. 

Stella. A century. Oh, I am sorry that you came. 

Thresk. And I am glad. I shouldn't have known, 
I should have gone back. I should have left you 
here. {Paiise.) I shouldn't have known. 

Stella. There is nothing to know. 

Thresk. Nothing ? {He is looking at her throat.) 

Stella. I fell and hurt myself. {Puts her hand 
to her throat.) 

{Ring bells.) 

Thresk. It was he — Ballantyne. 

Stella. No ! 

Thresk. Pie illtreats you. He drinks, and ill- 
treats you. 

Stella. You asked questions in Bombay where 
we are known. You were not told that. 

Thresk. And why ? Because it's here, in camp, 
that he lets himself go. He told me as much. No 
one to carry tales — no one to spy. In the town he 
sets a guard upon himself. Yes, but he looks for- 
ward to the months of camp when there are no next- 
door neighbours, and the devilish truth of him can 
have its way. 



28 THE WITNESS FOR THE DEFENCE. 

Stella. No ! that's not true. To-night he — ^he 
has had a long day, he was tired, and when you are 
tired — as a rule he's different. 

Thresk. That won't do. Why, he imagines he is 
being watched and followed. To-night he saw an 
arm and a hand reach in beneath the tent. There 
was no hand, no arm. It's not because on one day 
he's tired, that these delusions come. You can't 
stay on. {Rises.) It has got to end. 
, Stella. I can leave him when I wish. 

Thresk. You will ? 

Stella. When I wish. (Ballantyne's voice 
outside.) 

Ballantyne. Mr. Thresk ! 

Stella. There ! (Rises.) Your camel's ready. 
It's good-bye. Do you still collect miniatures ? 

Thresk. When I can. I have very little time 
now. 

Stella. I know. The world has gone well with 
you ; I read of it. You are a great man now. You 
always meant to be. Hard work ? 

Thresk. Very. Four o'clock in the morning till 
midnight, perhaps later. 

B.allantyne. Mr. Thresk J {Outside.) 

Stella. But it is worth it. (Thresk goes up r., 
gets hat, turns. Then Stella follows up, speaking as 
she goes.) Oh, you have got everything! 

Thresk. Everything ? {Movement towards 
Stella.) 

Stella {draws back a little). Everything you asked 
for. Good-bye. {Shakes hands with both hands.) 
You must go. 

Thresk. I'll write to you from Bombay. 

Stella. You won't have time. 

Thresk. Yes, I will. 

Stella. That letter will never reach me. Good- 
bye ! 

Ballantyne. Mr. Thresk ! {Outside.) 
. Stella. There go ! You must go! Married yet? 



THE WITNESS FOR THE DEFENCE. 29 

Thresk. No. 

Stella. Still too busy getting on. 

Thresk. No, that's not the reason. Stella ! 
{Strong movement towards her.) 

Stella {away and up to curtain, pulls it aside, her 
back to Thresk). Nor is Stella. That's mere pohte- 
ness and good manners. We must show the dear 
creatures the great part they play in our hves. 
(Thresk goes down, puts pipe on lower end of table c.) 
In fifteen days you'll be steaming up the channel. 
{He goes.) 

{She drops the curtain and comes back. She stands 
with her hands to her face to shut out the vivid rush 
of recollections. She gives a sob, then with a gesture 
of despair she throws up her hands. Her eyes fall 
upon the little rifle now standing by the bureau. 
They become wide and fixed. A dreadful purpose 
dawns in them. She picks up rifle, places butt on 
floor, and leans her heart over the muzzle. She looks 
round and takes the hunting crop. Holding the 
end of it in her hand, she measures it against the 
rifle, trying the trigger with the handle, to make sure 
that she can fire it off with it. She puts the crop on 
bureau. She still has rifle in her hands when the 
tent-door opens and Thresk returns.) 

Thresk {outside). I won't be a second. {He 
advances to R. of table inside: stops.) I left my pipe 
on the table. 

Stella. Did you ? 

Thresk. Yes, here it is on the table. {Picks, 
it up.) 

{Warn curtain.) 

BaL 




Thresk \ / Stella 



30 THE WITNESS FOR THE DEFENCE. 

Stella {she opens the breech of the rifle carelessly) . 
This is my little rifle. I was seeing whether it was 
clean. 

(Ballantyne appears, come above table.) 

Ballantyne. I don't think we ought to keep the 
train waiting longer than can be helped. You are 
looking at vStella's popgun. Come on. 

Stella {to Ballantyne). You are going to the 
station ? 

Ballantyne. No. 1 am just going to see Mr. 
Thresk start from the camp. 

Stella {to Thresk). Good-bye, then. 

Thresk {reluctantly). Good-bye. 

{He a7td Ballantyne go off. The curtains fall over 
the entrance behind them. Stella at once runs to 
her bureau, and opens first one drawer, then another. 
She looks round the room, troubled. She runs to 
Ballantyne's table and looks over it. Then she 
stands, trying to think quickly. Outside Ballantyne 
is heard again.) 

Ballantyne. Sit firm, or you'll be thrown off 
as the beast gets up. 

(Stella runs to table on which tantalus stands with an 
air of recollection. She pulls open the drawers.) 

Stella {in a whisper of satisfaction). Ah\ 
Ballantyne. There, you are all right, now. 
Hold on, and good night. 

(She takes from the drawer a small cardboard box, 
which she opens, and shakes as she opens. There 
are cartridges in it which rattle. She hurries back 
to L. of the table. Outside Ballantyne is heard 
again.) 

(Stella feverishly inserts a cartridge in the breecJi of 
the rifle. As she is doing this Ballantyne re- 



THE WITNESS FOR THE DEFENCE. 31 

enters. He stands looking at Stella. Stella 
recoils, fixing him ivith terrified eyes.) 

Ballantyne. So you will make a scene before 
strangers, will you ? Damn you. {Movement for- 
z&ards.) I'll teach you. (Stella closes breech of rifle: 
Ballantyne swings chair r. of table round.) Why 
don't you shoot ^^ourself and rid me of a fool ? 

(Ballantyne is moving towards her meaning to strike 
her. Stella points rifle towards him from her hip. 
Ballantyne i-^o^s. He stands for a moment. Then 
with a gasp he recoils from her as the curtain falls.) 



SPECIAL NOTES FOR ACT II, SCENE I 



On Stage. Hand Props. 

2 candlesticks and candles, Cuttings — Pettifer. 
syphon, matches, whisky, 2 Pamphlet — Hazlewood. 
glasses, on table up r. Cigarette case — Dick. 

Keys in doors r. and l. 

Lamps lit, r.l. and small 
table L. 

Candles on table c. out. 

Curtains closed except en- 
trance window, where cur- 
tains and window are 
open. 

Notepaper, envelopes, pens, 
on table c. 

Cigarettes, matches, tobacco, 
ash tray, on table down r . 

Ash tray l. of table c. 



32 



A. 

Play^s iG minides 



ACT II 



Scene i. The Lihrmy. 

Double doors lead to drawing-roorn R. Another door to 
hall, etc., L. .4s the curtain rises Stella is heard 
singing to the accompaniment of a piano in the 
drawing-room. Mrs. Pettifer, /o//oe'^^ by her hus- 
band, enters R. 

Mrs. Pettifer. Another moment and I should 
have screamed. 

Pettifer. It was to avoid that alarming pheno-. 
menon that I brought you here. 
: Mrs. Pettifer (l.c). It's sheer lunacy. 
. Pettifer (c). 'Sh, my dear. 

Mrs. Pettifer. I won't. If I am to 'sh I shall 
explode. {Goes l.) 

Pettifer. You mustn't explode here, Margaret. 
With these old houses you never know what will 
happen. [Stop rmisic.) 

Mrs. Pettifer. It's very weU for you to laugh, 
Robert, but 

{Enter Dick H.\zle\vood, r.) 

Mrs. Pettifer. Dick ! 

Dick. Yes, Aunt Margaret. 

Mrs. Pettifer. Is your father mad ? 

Dick. I shouldn't go so far as that. 

Mrs. Pettifer. I should. {Sits on settee l.) 

35 



36 THE WITNESS FOR THE DEFENCE. 

Pettifer. Really, my dear ! You are after all 
speaking to his son. 

'^ (Dick takes cigarette out of case and lights it at 
table down r.) 

Mrs. Pettifer. Of my brother. 

Pettifer (l.c). I admit that for a man of his 
local importance, with his property and his stake in 
the country, his views are a little peculiar. 

Dick. For 'instance ? 

Pettifer. He has paid out of his own pocket the 
fines of all the people in Little Beding who were 
convicted for not having their babies vaccinated. 

Dick. Oh, of course he'd do that. He's anti- 
everything. Everything I mean which experience 
has established and prudence could suggest. 

Pettifer. Then he wants to sell the navy for 
old iron and abohsh the army. 

Dick. Yes. He's like that, too — I can't deny it. 

Mrs. Pettifer. I should think not, indeed. He 
has written a pamphlet to enforce his views upon the 
subject. 

Dick. You should bless your stars. Aunt Margaret, 
that there is only one ! (Pettifer goes up l., then 
round to fireplace r.) He suffers from pamphlets. 
(Dick sits in armchair r.) He writes 'em and he prints 
'em, and every Member of Parhament gets one of 
'em for nothing. Pamphlets do for him what the 
gout does for other old gentlemen — they carry off 
from his system a great number of disquieting ail- 
ments. He's on to prison reform now. Have you 
heard him on prison reform ? 

Mrs. Pettifer. No — and I don't want to. He 
made a speech yesterday in Midhurst. Intolerable, 
I call it. He denounced his own countrymen as a 
race of oppressors. 

Dick. He would. (Rises.) But I don't think, 
Aunt Margaret, (Comes l.c. to above tea table.) 
that you understand my father. He was born pre- 



THE WITNESS FOR THE DEFENCE. 37 

destined to believe that all the people whom he knows 
are invariably wrong, and all the people whom he 
doesn't know as invariably right. And, when I feel 
inchned to deplore his abuse of his own country, I 
console myself with the reflection that he would be 
the staunchest friend of England that England ever 
had, if only he had been born in Germany. 

Pettifer. It's astonishing to me that he allows 
you to remain in the Army. 

Dick. Theoretically it's a great gr^ef to him. 
(Comes to settee below table c, sits on l. arm.) But you 
see I have done fairly well, and actually he's fit to 
burst himself with pride. He's like that, too. Every 
sentimental philosopher sooner or later breaks his 
head against his own theories. 

{White warning[; music r., f.rst entrance.) 

Mrs. Pettifer. Dick, I believe you are the only 
person in the world who has any control over him. 

Dick. Yes. Even in my pinafore I learnt the 
great lesson that to control one's parents is the first 
duty of the modern child. 

{Blue light: music r., first entrance.) 

Mrs. Pettifer. Then why don't you argue him 
out of all this nonsense. 

Dick. Because it's much better fun pulling his 
leg. (Dick comes down a little listening to singing.) 

Pettifer. H'm ! Even to-night ? (Also listening 
to music and singing.) 

Dick. I don't understand. 

Mrs. Pettifer. Are you pullinej his leg to-night, 
Dick? 

Dick. Would you mind speaking plainly. Aunt 
Margaret ? 

Mrs. Pettifer {rising and coming L. of Dick). 
Who is singing in the drawing-room ? 

Dick. Mrs. Ballantyne. 



S8 THE WITNESS FOR THE DEFENCE. 

Mrs. Pettifer. For whom is this small party 
given ? 

\Red, ^ white and blue light; stop music.) 

Dick. Mrs. Ballantyne. 

Mrs. Pettifer. A woman who has stood in the 
dock on a capital charge ; who has been accused of 
killing her husband. 

Dick. And has been acquitted. 

Mrs. Pettifer. She wouldn't have been acquitted 
if I had been on the jury. 

Dick. Very hkely not. But you weren't, you see. 

Mrs. Pettifer. She is asked to dinner here. We 
are invited, without a word of warning, to meet her. 
It's outrageous. Dick, of all the impossible things 
your father has ever done. 

Dick. Aunt Margaret \ I am sorry to interrupt 
you. But I want you to understand that I am with 
my father heart and soul to-night. 

{Enter Mr. Hazlewood, r., pamphlet in hand.) 

Dick. Where have you left Mrs. Ballantyne ? 

Hazlewood. My sister Alice is with her. {Move- 
ment forward from Dick. Mrs. Pettifer joins 
Pettifer up r.) You leave her, Dick ! She 
could always get men to champion her. What 
she wants is the friendly voice and chatter of a 
woman. She has changed already. (Hazlewood 
takes Dick's arm and takes him l.c.) She has lost the 
tragic look. Ah, Dick ! we have done a fine thing 
to-night ! 

Dick. You'll find that Aunt Margaret doesn't 
agree with you. 

Hazlewood. Your Aunt ^Margaret is afflicted 
with all the primeval ferocity of the average woman. 

Mrs. Pettifer. What ? {Coming down r.c.) 

Hazlewood {goes to Mrs. Pettifer). I have 
brought you, ]\Iargaret, the advance copy of my 
new pamphlet. It has just come by the post. I 



THE WITNESS FOR THE DEFENCE. 39 

should like you to read it. It's called '" The Prison 
Walls must cast no Shadow." 

Dick. Oh, come, father. All walls cast shadpws. 
It depends upon the position of the sun. 

Hazlewood {cjmes to Dick). The phrase, my boy, 
is a metaphor. I d-velop in this pamphlet my 
belief that a convict, ones he has expiated his Oii^ize, 
should upon his release be restored to th^ precise 
position in society which he held before, with all it> 
privileg.^5 unimpaired. {Giv33 pamphlet to Mrs. 
Pettifer, wJio goes up ani msets Pettifer r. of c. 
table. She gives him the pamphlet.) 

Dick (l.c). You are going it, father! 
H\ZLEW30D (c). Dick, I thought that I shiald 
have had your approval. It seemed to m^ that a 
change was taking place in you, that the player of polo, 
the wild hunter of an inoffensive little white ball, Vv^a? 
developing into the humanitarian. 

Dick. ^Well, father, I am beginning to think that 
there is something in your theories. But I am not yet 
prepared to admit that the man who has served a 
term of penal servitude has as much right to sit 
down at my dinner table as he had before. 

Hazlewood. Dick ! 

Mrs. Pettifer. He makes an exception in favour 
of Mrs. Ballantyne. {Comes to by armchair R.^ Petti- 
fer /o/Zoics hey. Hazlewood goes up to l. of table c.) 

Dick. You speak of her as if she had been tried 
and condemned. In fact, she was tried and acquitted. 

Pettifer. Ye-es. (r.c.) 

Dick. Come, Uncle Robert ! {Crosses to l. of 
Pettifer. Mrs Pettifer sits r.) You are a 
solicitor with a great business and a wide experience. 

Pettifer. Not of criminal cases, Dick ! 

Dick. Still you must have formed an opinion. 

(Hazlewood sits ii. of tea table.) 
Pettifer. This trial took place more than two 
years ago. I read the accounts of it, it is true, day 



40 THE WITNESS FOR THE DEFENCE. 

by day, as I travelled in the morning train to London. 
But they were summaries. 

Dick. Full summaries. 

Pettifer. No doubt. The trial made a great 
deal of noise in the world. But they were not full 
enough for me. Even if my memory of those news- 
paper reports were clear, I should hesitate to sit in 
judgment. But my memory isn't clear. (Dick 
goes up L. to table c.) Let me see what I do remember. 
The — well — let us call it the catastrophe — (Petti- 
fer sits R. of settee c.) took place in a tent in some 
state of Rajputana. 

Dick. Yes. {Coming l. of settee c.) 

Pettifer. It took place at night. The man, a 
drunken brute, was found shot through the heart by a 
bullet from a rook-rifle which Mrs. Ballantyne was 
in the habit of using. 

Dick. Yes. 

Pettifer. He was found late one night, I think 
b}^ a servant. Mrs. Ballantyne was asleep in her bed. 
A man had been dining with them that night. 

Dick. Yes. 

Pettifer. Oh, yes, I bei?in to remember 

Dick. Well ? 

Pettifer. That's all I remember except — 
except that there was left upon my mind, when the 
verdict was published, a vague feeling of doubt. 

Mrs. Pettifer. There ! Now what do vou say, 
Dick ? 

(Dick puts cigarette in as'h tray 07i table c.) 

Dick. I say that we have in this house the ver- 
batim reports of the trial published in the Bombay 
Times of India. 

Pettifer. Oh, have you ? 

Hazlewood. Yes. l' sent for the verbatim re- 
ports when I was thinking of championing this 
maligned lady ; I have them in my study. Come; 



THE WITNESS FOR THE DEFENCE. 41 

Robert, {Half rises : sits again.) I'll show you them 
now ! 

Pettifer. No, really ! I refuse to mix myself up 
in the affair at all. I have already said more than 
I meant to. 

Dick. I think now — since you have said so much 
— that you must go further, Uncle Robert. Con- 
sider ! It is cruelly hard that a woman like Mrs. 
Ballantyne, who has endured all the horrors of a 
trial, the publicity, the suspense, the dread risk that 
justice might miscarry, should have afterwards to 
suffer the treatment of a leper. 

Mrs. Pettifer. She shouldn't have come to 
Little Beding. 

Dick. And why not ? Here she was born. 
Here she was known. Here her father and mother 
lived, first in the Manor House when they were rich, 
then, after they had lost their money, in the cottage 
where Mrs. Bailantyne now makes her home. (Stella 
enters r., closes door.) $ What else should she do but 
come back to Little Beding and hold her head high ! 
I respect her pride for doing it. 

(Mr. and Mrs. Pettifer rise and go up to fireplace.) 

(Stella comes c.) 

Stella. Thank you. Captain Hazlewood ; but pride 
had nothing to do with it. I came back here, be- 
cause all through that trial at Bombay, in the heat of 
the court, in the close captivity of my cell, I was 
conscious of just one real over-mastering passion — 
to feel the wind blowing against one's face upon the 
Sussex Downs, just to see the bare green hills with 
the white chalk hollows in their sides and the forests 
in the valley marching like soldiers to Chichester. 
I was mad for the look and the smell and sound of 
them. That's why I came back to Little Beding 
as soon as I was free. {Crosses to Hazlewood, 
holds out her r. ha^id, Hazlewood takes it in both of 



42 THE WITNESS FOR THE DEFENCE. 

his.) But I was doubly fortunate, for I found friends 
as well. 

Hazlewood. And friends who will not fail you. 
To-night begins the great change. You'll see. 

Stella. Thank you. Good night! (Up above 
table L.) 

Hazlewood. You are going ? 

Stella. It's late. I have said good-bye to Miss 
Hazlewood. 

Hazlewood. Where is Ahce ? 

Stella. She has gone upstairs. Good night! 
{To Mr. and Mrs. Pettifer.) 

Pettifer. Good night. 

(Dick helps Stella to put scarf on.) 

Dick. Don't let Uncle Robert go, father. I'll be 
back in live minutes. 

Hazlewood. I won't. (Rises.) 
•Pettifer. No, but really— — 

Mrs. Pettifer. Robert, I should like to know 
your opinion {Comes down r.) 

Pettifer. Very well. {Then follows Mrs. 
Pettifer.) Show me the newspapers. 

Hazlew^ood {crossing r. and o^). Very well. 
They are in the study. I'll get them out for you. 

(Mrs. Pettifer, Pettifer and Hazlev^/cod exeunt r. 
Hazlewood shuts door.) 

Stella. Oh, I must thank you for to-night, you 
and your father. I have no words. 

Dick. Good ! For there's need of none. Will 
you ride to-morrow ? 

Stella. I should love to. 

Dick. Seven ? Is that too early ? 

Stella. No. That's the good time. We have 
the day at its best and the world to ourselves. 

Dick. Good! I'll bring the same horse round. 
He knows you now. 

Stella. Thank 3rou ! 



THE WITNESS FOR THE DEFENCE. 43 

Dick. I'll see you to your door. {Going up l.c.) 

Stella. I won't drag you away. It's only a 
step. I can cross the meadow by the garden gate. 
That brings me to my door. 

Dick. You can't do that ! {Comes down R. of 
Stella.) The meadow's drenched. You'd be ankle 
deep in dew. You must promise never to go home 
across the meadow when you dine with us. (Stella 
looks at him.) What's the matter ? 

Stella. Don't you understand ? {Comes down 
to settee L. of tea table.) Why should you ? Do you 
know that place I fill in Little Beding ? {Sits. Dick 
comes down R. of tea table.) Years ago, when I was 
a child, there was supposed to be a pig-faced woman. 
(Dick sits r. of tea table.) She lived in the Market 
Square. Strangers were pointed out the house. It 
was one of the sights of Little Beding. Sometimes 
you were shown her shadow after dusk between the 
lamp and the bhnd. Sometimes you might have 
even caught a ghmpse of her slinking late at night 
along the dark alleys. Well, the pig-faced woman 
has gone, and I have taken her place. I am the 
curiosity, I am the freak. The townsfolk take a 
pride in me, just the same pride they took in her. 
And I find that pride more difficult to bear even than 
all the aversion of the Pettifers. Then you speak to 
me \ (Rises up between settee and tabic. Dick rises 
and follows.) You shall see me to my door. I'll not 
cross the meadow. I'll go round by the road. Oh, it's 
rather good to be looked after. 

Dick. Stella. {His two hands on Stella's arms.) 

Stella. Oh, thank you. 

{They go out by bow-window L.c. After they have 
gone Hazlewood and Mrs. Pettifer come on r., 
leaving door open.) 

Hazlewood. Let's leave Robert for a moment to 
those newspapers. I trust his judgment and I want 
him to think as I do. {Coming l.c) 



44 THE WITNESS FOR THE DEFENCE. 

Mrs. Pettifer. Will you trust his judgment if he 
doesn't ? {Following him.) 

Hazlewood. But he will. {Turns.) He must. 

Mrs. Pettifer. Harold ! 

Hazlewood. Well ? 

Mrs. Pettifer (c). If you have no consideration 
for us, none for your own position, none for the neigh- 
bourhood, if you will at all costs force this woman 
upon us, don't you think you might still spare a 
thought for your son ? 

Hazlewood (l.c). What in the world do you 
mean ? 

Mrs. Pettifer. Yesterday — only yesterday — I 
saw him with Stella Ballantyne on the river — in the 
dusk — in a Canadian canoe. She had discarded her 
black. She was wearing a white lace frock with a big 
hat. 

Hazlewood. I — I don't think I have anything 
against big hats. {Goes L., sits lower end of settee l.) 

Mrs. Pettifer {comes to below chair r. of table). 
She was traiHng her hand in the water — outrageous, 
I call it ! He rides with her in the morning. He 
lends her a horse. He bulhes his acquaintances to 
call on her. He brandishes his friendship with her 
like a flag. Don't you see what it all means ? {Over 
table.) 

Hazlewood. Yes. The boy's better nature is 
awakening. 

Mrs. Pettifer. The boy. {Sits.) He's thirty, if 
he's a day. And you let it go on. 

Hazlewood. Gladly. Margaret, there was a 
time when Dick disappointed me. The mere health- 
ful, well-groomed look of him. was irritatingly con- 
ventional. He had no ardour of reforms. He had 
no wish to help in the regeneration of our times. 
But now he is beginning to see eye to eye with me. 

Mrs. Pettifer. He said a shrewd thing to-night, 
Harold. 

Hazlewood. W^hat ? 



THE WITNESS FOR THE DEFENCE. 45 

Mrs. Pettifer. That sentimental philosophers 
had a knack of breaking their heads against their own 
theories. I hope that won't happen to you. Where 
is Dick now ? 

Hazlewood. He is seeing Mrs. Ballantyne 
home. 

Mrs. Pettifer. Exactly. 

Hazlewood. Margaret, you want to make me 
uncomfortable. But you shan't. 

Mrs. Pettifer. Being friends is one thing ; 
marrying is another. 

Hazlewood. Marrying ! Nonsense 1 {He rises 
and looks towards Pettifer, who comes thought- 
fully from R. He has some newspaper cuttings in 
his hand. Hazlewood looks anxiously towards him, 
goes L.c. to him.) Ah, here's Robert ! 

Pettifer. I should like to borrow these reports 
for a day or two, Hazlewood. 

Hazlewood. You won't lose them ? 

Pettifer. Oh, no \ 

Hazlewood. Well, did you form an opinion ? 

Pettifer. One. 

Hazlewood. What is that ? 

Pettifer. That no other verdict could have been 
given, that on the evidence produced at the trial 
Mrs. Ballantyne was properly and inevitably 
acquitted. 

Hazlewood. Ah !■ You hear that, Margaret ? 
{Turns to Mrs Pettifer.) 

Pettifer. And yet I am not satisfied. 

Mrs. Pettifer. Ah ! 

Pettifer. That is why I wish to borrow these 
reports and go carefully through them. I am in- 
terested — I own it. The chief witness, whose evi- 
dence made the acquittal certain, was a man I know. 
A barrister called Thresk. I have more than once 
briefed him myself. He's a man with the highest 
reputation, with a great practice, a great future — 
straightforward — honest. A man with everything 



46 THE WITNESS FOR THE DEFENCE. 

to lose if he lied as a witness in a trial. And yet 

I am not satisfied. 

Hazlewood. Why ? 

Pettifer. I should very much like to put a 
question or two to Thresk. 

Mrs. Pettifer. Why don't you ? You know him. 

Pettifer. Not enough. It would be an imperti- 
nence ; for although I look upon Dick as a son, I 
am not his father. But if you, Hazlewood, were to 
get him down here and he could be induced to speak 
— why then, it might be different. {Seriously.) 
If there is anything to be known, Thresk knows it. 

Hazlewood (l.c). But I couldn't get him down 
here. I have no excuse. 

Pettifer (c). Oh, yes, you have. You collect 
miniatures. Some time ago you bought one of the 
first Duke of Richm.ond. You had a discussion as 
to its authenticity in Notes and Queries with 

Hazlewood. 'With a man called Thresk. 

Pettifer. The same. He's an authority. So 
there you have it. You know what collectors are. 
Get him down to see your miniatures. It wouldn't 
be the first time you have invited a stranger to see 
them. Get him down to Little Beding and confront 
him unexpectedly with Mrs. Ballantyne. Let m3 be 
there. 

(Ring hells.) 

Hazlewood. I couldn't. It would look like a 
trap. 

Pettifer. Oh, it would be a trap. It wouldn't 
be a pretty thing to do. Come, Margaret, we must be 
going. (Mrs. Pettifer rises, goes l., Pettifer/o//oz£'s. 
To Hazlewood.) Remember. If there's anything 
to be known, Thresk knows it. {Enter Dick l.c, 
pauses for a moment, goes r. and gets candlestick from 
table up R.) g^ King's Bench Walk. That's his 
address. 

Hazlewood. I couldn't. 



THE WITNESS FOR THE DEFENCE. 47 

Pettifer. Choose a Frida}' evening. That's your 
best ehafnce of getting him. 

Hazlewood. I couldn't think of it. 

Pettifer. And let me know when he is coming. 
Good night ! (Hazlewood is following.) Don't 
bother about seeing us out. 

(Fettiper end I\Irs. Pettifer go cut l.) 

Dick. Father ! [Comes r.c, puts caiidlestick on 
table R.) 

Hazlewood. Yes ! (Comes c.) 

Dick. There's nothing like acting up to your 
theories, eh ? 

Hazlewood. Nothing ! Look at my hfe ! 

Dick. Yes, and now look at mine. I am going 
to marry Stella Ballantyn^ ! 

HaZL2W30D.' Oh ! 

Dick. We agreed to champion her cause, didn't 
we ? 

Hazlewood. Yes. 

Dick. You took a good step forward to-night. I 
have taken a step further. 

Hazlewood. A long stride, Dick, and perhaps a 
precipitate one. I think you might have asked my 
consent first. 

Dick. So Stella said. 

Hazlewood. Ali ! 

{Warn ciirtain.) 

Dick. Bu: I vras able to reTi3V3 ali h^r fears, for 
I was able to tell her that you would welcome our 
marriage with all your heart ; for you vv^ould look upon 
it as a triumph for your principles, and a sure sign 
that my better nature was at last thoroughly awake. 
Hazlewood. No doubt. Quite so. [Crosses r.) 
Yes. [Turns to Dick.) But,'"of course, there's no 
hurr}-. I don't want to lose you ; and you have 
your career to think of, too, haven't you ? 
DxK. A career in the Army, father ? 



48 THE WITNESS FOR THE DEFENCE. 

Hazlewood. We don't want to prejudice that^ 
do we ? So it would be advisable, perhaps, for a 
little while, to let the matter remain in abeyance — to 
— er — well, to keep it quiet. 

Dick. Oh, no ! No secrecy, father. At once we 
invite suspicion. Nothing could be more damaging 
to Stella. Our chance is to hold our heads high. 
{Puts his R. arm round Hazlewood's shoulder.) 
I know we shan't find it all smooth and easy. But no 
secrecy, father. I mean to make a life which has 
been very troubled know some comfort and a little 
happiness. {Goes r. and lights candle.) Let us go to 
bed. If you'll go first I'll turn out the hghts and 
lock up. 

Hazlewood. No, Dick. I have a letter to write 
before I go to bed. (Dick goes off r.) Nine, that was 
the number. Nine, King's Bench Walk. {He sits 
at writing table. Turns on electric candles and takes 
pen up.) 

{The curtain descends for a moment to mark the lapse 
\ of time.) 

(Curtain on last word.) 



SPECIAL NOTES FOR ACT II, SCENE II 

On Stage. Hand Props. 

Pamphlets on R. of table c. Cuttings, papers with holes 
Tobacco jar, lid off. — Pettifer. 

Pipes. Pipe — Thresk. 

Notepaper and envelope on 

table c. 
Tea things. 
Curtains open. 
Matches on table down r. 
" Globe " off R. 
Reading lamp l.l. struck. 

L-U. ,, 
Change flowers. 



50 



Plays 27 minutes. 

Scene 2. Same Scene. Hubbard opens the door, l., 
and enters, followed by Thresk. Hubbard lets 
Thresk pass him, closes door, goes round tables 
L.L. and c. to R. 

Hubbard. I thought that Va\ Hazlewood was 
here, Sir. I'll find him. 

{Enicy Hazlewood, r.) 

Hazlewood (r.c). Ah, Mr. Thresk. 
Thresk (c). Yes. 

{They shake hands. Hubbard exits R.) 
Hazlewood. It is most kind of you to come. 
Ever since we had our httle correspondence I have 
been anxious to take vour opinion upon my collec- 
tion. Though how in the world you manage to find 
time to have an opinion at all upon the subject is 
most perplexing. I never open The Times but I see 
your name figuring in some important case. 

Thresk. And I, Mr. Hazlewood, never open my 
mail without receiving a pamphlet from you. I am 
not the onlv active man in the world. 

Hazlewood. Little reflections worked out more 
or less to completeness— may I say that— in the quiet 
of a rural life. You have read perhaps " The Pnson 
Walls." 
{He turns towards bundle of pamphlets, takes one up.) 



52 THE WITNESS FOR THE DEFENCE. 

Thresk. I have got mine. Every man in Eng- 
land should have one. No man in England has a 
right to two. 

Hazlewood. Really, you are most kind. To 
think that you have found time to read it. {Comes 
down R. of Thresk 7mth pamphlet.) " The Prison 
Walls must cast no Shadow." Do you think the 
title quite appropriate ? 

Thresk. I have not heard any other suggested. 
Hazlewood. I am inclined upon reflection to 
think it not quite accurate. As my son saj^s, all 
walls cast shadows. 

Thresk. Yes, the trouble is to know where and 
on whom the shadow is going to fall. 

Hazlewood. Yes. I am i*3t sure that this 
particular pamphlet isn't something of a mistake. 
But, after all, these little trifles — sparks from the 
tiny flame of my midnight oil — must not lead us 
astray. You came to look at my miniatures. {Puts 
pamphlet down on table c.) You shall give me your 
opinion after tea. 

Thresk. I shall be delighted. But you must 
not expect too much knowledge from me. 

Hazlewood. Oh ! Pettifer tells me that you are 
a great authority. 

Thresk. Then Pettifer's wrong. Pettifer ! Isn't 
he a solicitor ? 

Hazlewood. Yes. He told me that he knew 
you. He married one of my sisters, and lives at 
Little Beding. He is coming here now to tea. 

Thresk. Then, before he comes, I should like a 
wash. I have been for two hours in a train. 

Hazlewood. Certainly. Your bag will already 
have been taken up. {Enter servant R. Servant puts 
"Globe" on R. of table c, goes to door R. Thresk 
crosses R.) Show Mr. Thresk his room. I think 
you will find everything you want. Meanwhile I'll 
go and telephone to Pettifer that you are here. 
{Goes l.) 



THE WITNESS FOR THE DEFENCE- 53 

(Thresk and servant go out r.. Servant crosses door. 
Enter Dick, l.) 

Hazlewood. Well, Dick, how did the match go ? 
Dick. We beat them easily. Isn't Stella here ^ 

{Goes c. up L.c. a little, then down again.) 

Hazlewood. She has not come yet. She won't 
have forgotten ? 

Dick (c). No. But she's late. We have ar- 
ranged to look over a house this afternoon. So we 
shan't have much time for your party. Who's 
coming ? 

Hazlewood. Oh, it isn't a party ! There's only 
Pettifer and a barrister who has come down from 
London to look at my miniatures. (Moves to go off L.) 
Dick. Oh. is that all ? Father ! 
Hazlewood. Well ? (Coming l.c.) 
Dick. Why don't you hke Stella any longer ? 
Hazlewood. A lawyer's question, Richard. You 
assume that I have ceased to like her. 
Dick. Stella noticed it. 

Hazlewood. And complained to you, of course. 
Dick. Stella doesn't complain. Father, there 
can be no backing down now. We are both agreed 
upon that, aren't we ? Suppose that I were first 
to blazon my trust in a woman, whom others sus- 
pected, by becoming engaged to her, and then en- 
dorsed their suspicions by breaking off the engage- 
ment ? Suppose that I were to do that ? 
Hazlewood. Well ? 

Dick. You wouldn't think very much of me, 
would you ? Not you, nor any man. A cur — that 
would be the word, the only word, wouldn't it ? 

Hazlewood. Suppose that Stella had deceived 
you ? 

Dick (enter Stella l.c. at back). She hasn't done 
that. Now I'll go and change. Ah, there's Stella 
coming across the lawn. 



54-' THE WITNESS FOR THE DEFENCE. 

•Stella (l. of Dick). I am afraid that I am late. 
(Comes down.) 

Hazlewood (takes both Stella's hands). No, no, 
just at the right thne. How are you, Stella ? But 
there's no need to ask. You look charming, and 
upon my word you grow younger every day. (l. of 
Stella.) What a pretty hat! Yes, yes! Will 
you make tea while I speak a w^ord to some one on 
the telephone ? Thank you. My sister is away, 
you know. 

(Hazlewood exits l. Dick i^oes r. a little, puts hat 
in armchair R.) 

Stella (c). I am taken again into favour. 

Dick (r.c). That shouldn't distress you at all 
events, Stella. 

Stella. Yet it does. For Fm asking myself 
why ? I have been in the black books for a long 
time. Why am I in favour this afternoon ? 

Dick. Are you sure you have ever been in the 
black books at all ? 

Stella. Oh, yes. Ever ' since you — took me 
home — that night. 

Dick (r.c). No ! 

Stella (c). Mr. Pettifer dined here that night. 

Dick. Well ? 

Stella. He did the harm. He's an enemy of 
mine. 

Dick. Stella, you see enemies everywhere. 

Stella. Is it^ wonderful ? Dick, I couldn-t 
lose you. I couldn't, I couldn't. I have often 
thought it would be better for you to go right away, 
and never see me again. I have tried to tell you, 
Dick— I mean that I have tried to tell you that I 
wouldn't suffer so very much if you did, but I never 
could do it. My lips shook so. I could never speak 
the words. To think of you living in a house with 
somebody else. No ! And now I can't lose you. 

Dick. It's rather late to say that, isn't it, Stella ? 



THE WITNESS FOR THE DEFENCE. 55 

Stella. Yes, thank God ! (Kiss.^Comes to above 
tea table.) Wh'o is comiiig to tea ? ' ' 

Dick. Pettifer. [Up to settee c.) 
Stella. My enemy. {Pours water into teapot.) 
Dick. And you and my father and I. 
Stella. That's four. But there are one, two. 
three, four — five cups. Your aunt's away. Who 
is the fifth ? {Empties teapot.) 

Dick. Oh, I know. A man from London, v/hom 
my father has got down to examine his miniatures. 
{Comes above chair r. of tea table ; he cannot see 
Stella's face.) 

Stella. His miniatures ! 
Dick. Ye$, a barrister. 

Stella. What's his name ? {Puts tea ' in teapot ; 
pours in hot water.) 
Dick. I don't know. 
Stella. Your father wouldn't tell you ? 
Dick. I didn't ask. He often has collectors down. 
Dull dogs ! When he does, I go out to dinner. 

Stella. You didn't even know that this one was 
coming at all ? 
Dick. No, not until a minute ago. 
Stella. And I w-as specially asked to come to 
tea. 

Dick. Well, we can't give them much time if 
we are to see that house before half-past five. 

Stella. And you want to change. Run away, 
and do it now. 

Dick. I will. {Goes r.c.) 

Stella {to Dick). Dick ! Look at me ! I am 
sure of you ! 

Dick. I think we ought to be fairly happy in that 
house. 

Stella. Anywhere, Dick — anywhere on earth. 
(Kiss. Exit Dick r., Stella stands for a second, 
goes up to writing-table, and writes hurriedly. She 
speaks aloud the words she is writing.) " Be prepared 
to see me. Be prepared to hear news of me. I will 



56 THE WITNESS FOR THE DEFENCE. 

see you afterwards if you like ; this is a trap. Be 
kind." {She goes to bell, rings it. She puts 'letter 
in envelope. Hubbard appears r.) Hubbard ! 
(Addressing and sealing envelope.) 

Hubbard. Yes, m'm. 

Stella.. Mr. Thresk is in the house ? 

Hubbard. Yes. 

Stella. Where is he ? 

Hubbard. In his room. 

Stella. You are sure ? 

Hubbard. Yes, m'm. 

Stella. Will you take this note to him at once ? 
{Gives him letter.) Give it into his hands, please. 
Don't make any mistake. 

{Exit Hubbard r.) 

Enter Pettifer and Hazlewood, 
L., talking.) 

Hazlewood. Ah, here we are ! Is tea ready ? 

Stella. Yes. 

Hazlewood. Dick's not here, but we won't wait. 

Stella. Cream and sugar ? 

Pettifer. Neither, thanks. 

Stella. Neither ! {To Hazlewood.) And both 
for you ? 

Pettifer. Dick's playing cricket, isn't he ? 

Stella. No, the match is over — our side won 
easily. 

Hazlewood. I have given some study to the 
subject of cricket. 

Stella. You ? 

Hazlewood. Yes, and I've formed two theories 
about the game. 

Pettifer. I am sure of that. 

Hazlewood. I have invented two improvements. 

Pettifer. An alteration in the leg-before rule for 
one, I suppose ? 

Hazlewood. Not at all. I think in the first 
place that the game ought to be played with a soft 



THE WITNESS FOR THE DEFENCE. 57 

ball. There is at present a suggestion of violence 
about it which the use of a soft ball would entirely 
remove. 

Pettifer. Entirely. 

Stella. But women play cricket. (Sits.) 

Hazlewood. I cannot, Stella, accept the view 
that whatever women do must necessarily be right. 
There are instances to the contrary. 
- Pettifer. Yes, I come across a few of them in 
my office. 

Hazlewood. And in the second place it ought 
to be the aim of the victors to lose. 

Pettifer. Yes, that must be right. 

Stella. But why ? 

Hazlewood. Because by adopting that system 
you would be doing something to eradicate that spirit 
of rivalry, that desire to win, which is at the bottom 
of half our troubles. , . 

Pettifer. And all our success. 

{Enter ThResk r. behind Stella, who z> sitting r. of 
tea table. Stella shows by her face that she is aware 
he has entered. Hazlewood rises, looks down' at 
Pettifer, who is watching Thresk's face.) 

Hazlewood. Ah, you know Mrs. Ballantyne. 

Thresk. You ! 

Stella. You are surprised to see me again. 
(Rises, goes to him, holding out her hand. He takes it.) 

Thresk. I am delighted to see you again". 

Stella. And I to see you. For I have never had 
a chance of thanking you. Do you know, Mr. Hazle- 
wood, you have done a very cruel thing ? (Coming 
to table.) 

Hazlewood. Cruel ! How ? (Confused.) 

Stella. In not telling me beforehand that I was 
going to meet so good a friend of mine. I would 
have put on my best frock in his honour. 
(Enter Dick r.) 

Hazlewood. Ah, here's my son. Richard ! 



58 THE WITNESS: FOR THE DEFENCE. 

Let me introduce you. Mr. Thresk, my son. And 
there's the family. {Sits.) 

Thresk. The family ! Is Mrs. Ballantyne a 
relation ? . ' 

Dick. Going to be ! 

Hazlewood. Yes, Richard and Stella are going 
to be married. 

Thresk (pause). Some men have all the luck. 
(Towards Dick.) 

Dick. Mr. Thresk, did you say ? Not (To 

Stella.) 

Stella. Yes. 

Thresk. The very man. 

Dick (shakes hands with Thresk). Thank you ! 
When I think of the horrible net of doubt and as- 
sumption in which Stella was coiled, I tell you I feel 
cold down my spine even now. If you hadn't come 
forward with your facts 

Thresk. Yes. If I hadn't come forward with 
my facts. Well, I couldn't well keep them to my- 
self, could I ? 

Dick. No. (Thresk, Dick and Stella talk 
together.) 

Pettifer (to Hazlewood). Well, that's a pretty 
good failure, I must say. 

Hazlewood. What do you think ? 

Pettifer. That the}^ share no secret. 

Hazlewood. You are satisfied then ? 

Pettifer. I didn't say that. 

Hazlewood. Sit down, Mr. Thresk. Stella, give 
Mr. Thresk a cup of tea. 

(Thresk sits r. of tea table. Stella pours out cup . 
Dick gets hat from armchair, comes l.c, then speaks.) 

Dick. And that's all she can do. 
Thresk. You are going ? 
Stella. Yes, 

Dick. We have to look at a house. 
Thresk. A house. Yes, I see. 



THE WITNESS FOR THE DEFENCE. 59 

(TiiRESK Speaks a little doubtfully. Stella glances at 
him sharply. ) 

Stella. But, Dick, perhaps we could put the 
inspection off. 

Thresk. Not on my account. (Dick goes up l.) 
There's no need for that ? 

Stella (to Hazlewood). I haven't been asked. 
Rut may I come to dinner ? 

Hazlewood. Of course, my dear. T must have 
forgotten to ask you. I certainly expect you to 
dine with us. 

Stella. Thank you. (To Thresk.) Then I shall 
see you again. 

Thresk. Yes, to-night. 

(Exeunt Stella and Dick c.) 

Hazlewood (rising). Now we might have a look 

at the miniatures before dinner, eh ? {Rise\^ oes 

ft^d takes drawer from cabinet up L., puts it on 

^ Enter Hubbard and servant l. Thresk and 

. i^T-ER rise. Pettifer comes l.c. to Thresk while 

^^' Hazlewood is placing drawer upon table and 

I '-^Thresk and Pettifer are speakiny. Hubbard 

takes off cake and bread and butter. Servant blows 

out spirit lamp, takes kettle off. Hubbard takes 

Thresk's cup, puts it on tray with plates. Servant 

takes tray off. Hubbard table-cloths, closes door. 

This should be so timed that thz door is closed by the 

end of Hazlewood's speech at the bottom of this pa%e.) 

Pettifer, I haven't met you since you led for 
us in that great Birmingham will suit. 

Thresk. No. It wasn't such a tough fight as I 
thought it was going to be ; you see there wasn't 
a really reliable witness for the defence. 

Pettifer. No, if there had been 

Thresk. We should have been beaten. 

Hazlewood. I have the principal ones arranged 
in this drawer with their approximate dates, as far 




60 THE WITNESS FOR THE DEFENCE. 

as I could obtain them, but there are some about 
which I am in doubt. 

(Thresk sits above c. table. Hazlewood stands r., 
Pettifer l.) 

Thresk. Ah ! You bought that at Lord Mir- 
liton's sale ? 

Hazlewood. The Marie Antoinette ? Yes. 

Thresk. I saw it at Christie's and coveted it myse If. 

Hazlewood. I'm sorry I anticipated you. 

Thresk (taking up miniature). Hullo ! 

Hazlewood. Yes. 

Thresk. Phew ! 

Pettifer. There's nothing like a hobby to turn 
strangers 'into friends. 

Thresk. And sometimes into enemies. 

Hazlewood. I am very glad to meet you, Mr. 
Thresk, for reasons quite outside our common interest. 

Thresk. Oh ! 

Hazlewood. Yes. Being Richard's father, I 
am naturally concerned in everything which affects 
him nearly — the trial of Stella Ballantyne, for 
instance. 

Thresk (looking over miniatures). Quite so. 

Hazlewood. Now you gave evidence ? 



Thresk 



Hazle. 



Pet. 



Thresk. You have no doubt read the evidence 
I gave ? 

Hazlewood. To be^sure. 

Thresk. And, since your son is engaged to Mrs. 
Ballantyne, I must suppose that you were satisfied 
with it — as the jury was. 

Hazlewood. Yes, but a witness I think only 
answers the questions put to him. 

Thresk. That is so. of course. 



THE WITNESS FOR THE DEFENCE. 61 

Hazlewood. And subsequent reflection might 
suggest that all the questions which could throw 
ligM upon the trial had not been put. 

Ehresk (puts miniature down). It was not, I take 
it, in order to put to me those questions that you were 
kind enough to ask me, Mr. Hazlewood, to give my 
opinion on your miniatures — (Pause. Hazlewood 
and Pettifer exchange glances.) iov that would have 
been setting a trap for me, wouldn't it ? 

Hazlewood. Oh, no, no ! No, no ! Only, since 
you aje here, and since so much is at stake for me 
— my son's whole happiness — I hoped that you might 
perhaps give us an answer which would disperse 
the doubts of some suspicious people. 
Thresk. Who are they ? 

Hazlewood. Neighbours of ours at Little Bed- 
ing. 

Pettifer. I for one. 

Thresk. Ah ! I thought so I t'lought I recog- 
nized Mr. Pettifer's hand in all this. But he ought 
to know that the sudden confrontation of a suspected 
person with unexpected witnesses takes place in 
those countries where the method is practised, before 
the trial ; not, as you ingeniously arranged it this 
afternoon, two years after the verdict has been 
given. 

Pettifer. We had better make a clean breast 
of it. 

Thresk. I think so. 

Pettifer. We are in the wrong. But we have 
an excuse. Our trouble is very great. Here's my 
brother-in-law to begin with, whose whole creed of 
life has been to deride the authority of conventional 
man — to tilt against established opinion. Mrs. 
Ballantyne comes back from her trial at Bombay 
to make her home again in Little Beding. Hazle- 
wood champions her — not for her sake, for the sake 
of his theories^ It pleases his vanity. Now he can 
prove that iTeis not as others are. 



62 THE WITNESS FOR THE DEFENCE. 

Hazlewood. Oh, come! 

Pettifer. So he brings her to his house ; he 
canvasses for her, he throws his son in her way. She 
has beauty. She has suffered very much — look at 
it how you will, suffered beyond her deserts. She 
has pretty deferential ways which in a woman of her 
charm make their inevitable appeal to women as 
to men. Hazlewood sets the ball rolling and it gets 
beyond his reach, 

Thresk. Yes. 

Pettifer. Finally, his son falls in love with he r 
— not a boy but a man, claiming a man's right to 
marry where he loves. And at once in Hazlewood 
conventional man awakes"and cries out against the 
marriage. Then there's myself. I am fond of Dick. 
I have no child. He will be my heir. I am very 
fond of him, and I wouldn't say that he shouldn't 
marry Stella Ballantyne just because Stella Ballan- 
tyne has lain under a grave charge of which she has 
been acquitted. But I am not satisfied ! {Goes 
down L.) No, that's the truth, Mr. Thresk. I am 
not satisfied, in spite of your evidence. I am not 
sure of what happened in "that tent in Chitipur after 
you had ridden away to catch the night mail to 
Bombay.' 

Thresk (rises, comes down l.c. Hazlewood comes 
down R. to c). Ask your questions ! 

Hazlewood. You consent to answer them ? 

Thresk. I must ; for if I don't consent, your 
suspicions at once are double what they were. But 
I'm not pleased. 

Hazlewood. We practised a little diplomacy. 

Thresk. No. Mr. Hazlewood, I'm quite serious. 
You have got me to your house by a trick. You 
have abused your position as my host. And but 
that I should injure a woman whom life has done 
nothing but injure, I should go out of your door this 
instant. {To Pettifer.) I am -at your service. 
You doubt my evidence ? 



THE WITI^f ESS FOR THE DEFENCE. 63 

Pettifer. No. But I would like to hear it from 
your lips. {Sitt; top end of settee l.) 

Thresk. Very well, you shall. {Sits in chair r. 
of tea-table.) I dined with Ballantyne and his wife 
on the night when Ballantyne was killed. He was 
in a state of extreme terror. And as soon as Mrs. 
Ballantyne left us alone together after dinner, he 
asked me to do him a service. 

Pettifer. Yes. 

Thresk. He had in his despatch box the photo- 
graph of a well-known agitator. 

Pettifer. Yes. • Bahadur Salak. 

Thresk. Ballantyne told me that Salak's friends 
knew that he possessed it, and that so long as it 
remained in his possession his life was actually in 
danger. 

Pettifer. Yes. 

Thresk. I promised to take the photograph 
away with me, but I was inclined to laugh at his fears 
— until he put his despatch-box on the ground close by 
the wall of the tent. 

Pettifer. Yes. 

Thresk. I then had prcoi that Salak's friends 
were desperate. For while he was searching for 
his keys, a lean brown aim, with a hand delicate as 
a wcman's, re?.ched out under the tent wall, and 
tried to steal that hex before our eyes. Ballantyne 
raised a hue and ciy, a search was mad-e throughout 
the camp. 

Hazlewcod {sits c). Yes, the servants bore 
witness to that. 

Pettifer. But no one was found. 

Thresk. No, Ballantyne even said that the thief 
m.ight be one of his own servants. 

Pettifer. Well ? 

Thresk. I took the photograph then, knowing 
quite clearly tliat Ballantyne was watched and that 
his life might well be in great danger ; and Ballantyne 
came with me to the edge of his camp and waited 



64 THE WITNESS FOR THE DEFENCE. 

while I mounted the camel and rode off to the station. 

Pettifer. Your theory being that while Ballan- 
tyne was away, the thief not knowing that now you 
had the photograph, slipped into the tent, took up 
the rook-rifle — 

Thresk. Which was standing by -B'allantyne's 
bureau — 

Pettifer. Loaded it — 

Thresk. The cartridges were lying open in a 
drawer — 

Pettifer, And shot Ballantyne on his return. 

Thresk. Yes. In addition you must remember 
that when he was found an hour or so later, Mrs. 
Ballantyne was in bed and asleep. 

Pettifer. Yes. The tent was thick ? 

Thresk. Oh, yes — a double lining of curtains. 
The slight crack of a rook-rifle would easily pass 
unnoticed. 

Pettifer. In brief, you supplied a reasonable 
motive for the crime and some evidence of a criminal. 

Thresk. Yes. 

Pettifer. And I admit that on your evidence 
the jury returned the only verdict it was possible 
to return. 

Thresk. What troubles you, then ? 

Pettifer. This. The case for the prosecution 
ran like this : Stephen Ballantyne was a secret 
drunkard who humiliated his wife in public and beat 
her in private. She went in terror of him. She bore 
on more than one occasion the marks of his violence ; 
and upon that night in Chitipur, perhaps in a panic, 
very likely under extreme provocation, she seized 
the rook-rifle and put an end to the whole business. 

Thresk. That was the case for the Crown. 

Pettifer. Yes, and through the five sittings at 
the Magisterial inquiry at Bombay, before you came 
upon the scene, that theory was clearly developed. 

Thresk. Yes. 

Pettifer. Now — and this is the important point 



THE WITNESS FOR THE DEFENCE. 65 

—what was the answer to that charge foreshadowed 
by the defence— during those five days before you 
appeared upon the scene ? 

Thresk. The defence had not formulated their 
answer. I came forward before the case for the 
Crown had finished. 

Pettifer. Quite so. But Mrs. Ballantyne's coun- 
sel did cross-examine the witnesses for the prosecu- 
tion, and from that cross-examination it is quite 
clear what answer he was going to make. He was 
going— not to deny that Mrs. Ballantyne shot her 
husband— but to plead that she shot him in self- 
defence. 
■ Thresk. Where do you find that ? 

(Pettifer opens out cuttings.) 

Pettifer. Listen. {Reads.) Mr. Repton, Collector 
at Agra, testified that Ballantyne and his wife 
came up from the plains to the hill-station of . Mis- 
sourie in the hot weather and occupied a villa next 
to his. Repton's house was broken into one night. 
He went across to Ballantyne next morning, and in 
the presence of his wife advised him to sleep with a 
revolver under his pillow. 

Thresk. Yes, I remember that. 
. Pettifer. Mrs. Ballantyne then turned very 
pale, and, . running after Repton down the garden 
like a distracted woman, cried, " Why did you tell 
him to do that ? It will some night mean my death." 
This statement was ehcited in cross-examination by 
Mrs. Ballantyne's counsel, and it coald only m3an 
that he intended to set up a plea of self-defence. I 
frankly find it a httle difficult to reconcile that 
intention with the story you subsequently told. 

Thresk. There are three things for you to remem- 
ber, Mr. Pettifer. In the first place it is too early 
to assume that self-defence was going to be the plea. 



66 THE WITNESS FOR THE DEFENCE. 

In the second place, Mrs. Ballantyne was brought 
down to Bombay in a state of prostration. She was 
indifferent to anything which might happen. 
Pettifer. Yes, I can understand that. 
Thresk. It followed that her advisers had to act 
upon their own initiative. 

Pettifer. And the third point ? 
Thresk. It's merely an opinion of mine, but a 
strong one — her counsel mishandled the case. 

Pettifer. Then I come to the next question. 
At the close of the case for the Crown, and the day 
bef ore the defence was to be opened, you put yourself 
into communication with Mrs. Ballantyne's advisers 
and volunteered your evidence. Isn't it strange 
that the defence of its owm accord never called you ? 
Thresk. It is not strange. For it was not known 
that I could throw^ any light upon the affair after all. 
All that passed between Ballantyne and myself, 
passed when we were alone. 

Pettifer. Yes. But you had dined with the 
Bailantynes on that night, you had only left the 
tent an hour before Ballantyne was found dead. 
Surely it's strange that since you were in Bombay 
Mrs. Ballantyne's advisers did not seek you out, did 
not ask you whether you could throw any hght upon 
the crime. 

Thresk. It would have been strange, but it was 
not known that I was in Bombay. On the contrary, 
I was supposed to be somewhere in the Red Sea on 
my way back to England. 

Pettifer {surprised). Oh! Let me understand 
that. 

Thresk {pulls chair a little nearer table). I left 
the tent just before eleven to catch the Bombay 
mail. I was returning direct to England, ihe 
reason why Ballantyne asked me to take the photo- 
graph was, that since I was going from Bombay 
Station straight on board the boat, it could be no 
danger to me. 



THE WITNESS FOR THE DEFENCE. 67 

Pettifer. Then wh}^ didn't you come back to 
England ? 

Thresk. I'll tell you. I thought the matter 
over on the journey down to Bomba}'. And I came 
to the conclusion that since the photograph might 
be wanted at Salak's trial, I had better take it to the 
Governor's house in Bomba3\ But Government House 
is out at Malabar Point, four miles from Bombay. 
I took it there and so I missed the boat. There 
wasn't another for a fortnight. 

Pettifer. Yes, I see. That makes a difference 
— a big difference. But during that fortnight Mrs. 
Ballantyne was brought down to Bombay. 
Thresk. Yes. 

Pettifer. And the case for the Crown was stated. 
Thresk. Yes. 

Pettifer. And the Crown's witnesses were cross- 
examined. 
Thresk. Yes. 

Pettifer. Why did you wait then all that time 
before you came forward ? Why did you wait till 
the day before Mrs. Ballantyne was going to be 
definitely committed to a particular fine of defence, 
before you announced that you could clear up the 
mystery ? Doesn't it rather look, Mr. Thresk, as if 
you had lain low on the chance of the Prosecution 
breaking down and had only come forward when 
you realized that to-morrow self-defence would be 
pleaded and a terrible risk would be run ? 
Thresk. But that's the truth, Mr. Pettifer. 
Pettifer. What ? 

Thresk {calmly). Consider my position — a bar- 
rister who was beginning to have one of the large 
practices, the Courts opening in London, briefs await- 
ing me, cases in which I had already advised coming 
on. The fortnight I lost by missing my boat was 
bad enough. But if I came forward with my story 
I must wait in Bombay not merely for a fortnight, 
but until the whole trial was completed and the 



08 THE WITNESS FOR THE DEFENCE. 

verdict given, as in the end I had to do. Of course 
I hoped that the Prosecution would break down. 
{Ring hells.) Of course I didn't intervene until it 
was absolutely necessary in the interest of justice 
that I should. 

Pettifer. I see. I see. Yes. That's not to 
be disputed. 

Thresk (rising). Have you any more questions 
to ask me ? 

Pettifer (coming l.c. to Thresk.) One. Did 
you know Mrs. Ballantyne before you went to Chiti- 
pur ? 
Thresk (with his eyes on Pettifer). Yes. 
Pettifer. Had you seen her lately ? 
Thresk. No. 

Pettifer. When had you last seen her ? 
Thresk (Hazlevvood rises, comes down c). Seven 
years before — here — at Little Beding. I had a 
cottags one summer. Her father and mother were 
ahve. I had not seen her since. I had lost sight 
of her until I was in India. I did not know that she 
had married and was there. 

(Pettifer throws up his hands with the gesture of a 
man who has done with the whole business.) 

Hazlewood (i!o Pettifer). Well? 

Pettifer. We have nothing to do but to thank 
Mr. Thresk for answering our questions and to apolo- 
gize to him for having put them. 

Hazlewood. Certainly, and if apologies are 
needed 

Thresk. You are satisfied, then? (To H\zle- 

WOOD.) 

PzTnFZ.-^. Ye3. Let m^ say to yoa, Mr. Tn-resk, 
that eve: since I began to study this case, I have 
wished less and less to bear ha-dly UDon Mrs. BiUan- 
tyne. (H\zlevvjod gojs r. ani fi'ls pipe.) As I 
have reid these columns the heavy figure of Stephen 
Ballantyne has taken Hfe again, but a very sinister 



THE WITNESS FOR THE DEFENCE. 69 

life ; and when I look at Stella, and think of what 
she went through during the six years of her married 
life, I cannot but feel a shiver of discomfort. There- 
fore, I am glad that my doubts are satisfied. 

{Enter Stella and Dick c.) 

Hazlewood. Yes, but — 

Pettifer. Hush ! {Warn Curtain.) 

Stella. You have had your talk ? (Pettifer 
goes lip to Stella above tea table. Dick goes r. to 
snioke table. Thresk joins them.) 

Pettifer. Yes, but it's over. (Stella is sur- 
prised at the kindness of Pettifer's voice.) Now' tell 
me about your house. 

{He takes Stella by the arm.) 

Stella. You want to know ? 

Pettifer. Yes, I do. Will it suit you? 

Stella. Yes, there's a high garden looking right 
across Calbourne Park. 

Hazlewood {to Thresk). Won't you have a 
cigarette now ? 

Thresk. No, thanks. I never smoke them. 

Stella. And there are a couple of bathrooms— 
that's splendid, isn't it ? — and a dehcious little 
drawing-room. 

Thresk {aiming his words at Stella). But since 
I see that I may, I think I will smoke a pipe. 

(Stella stops. Thresk takes pipe from his pocket, 
and taps the bowl in the palm of his hand. Stella 
turns slowly and looks at it in alarm and fear. Comes 
down R. of tea table. Pettifer comes to tea table, 
collects papers, tears notes up, his back to Stella. 
Dick and Hazlewood talking together r.) 

Dick. You smoke a pipe, do you ? 
Thresk. Ah ! You didn't know that. 
Dick. No. 



70 THE WITNESS FOR THE DEFENCE. 

Thresk. I am lost without my pipe. Before 
now when I have left it behind me, I have come back 
for it, under all sorts of circumstances, even at the 
risk of losing a train. But he didn't know that, Mrs. 
Ballantyne. 

Stella. No. 

Thresk. No. He didn't know that. (Thresk 
crosses r., saying), May I have some tobacco ? 
Dick hands him tobacco jar, lie starts to fill pipe. 
Stella turns to Pettifer.) 



Curtain on last word. 



SPECIAL NOTES FOR ACT III. 

On Stage. Hand Props. 

Lamp on small table l., lit. ^^P^' letter-Thresk. 
Brief, papers and blue pencil, 

on tea table l. 
Keys in doors r. and l. 
Candles (2), matches, whisky, 

syphon, 2 glasses, on table 

up R. 

Notepaper, loose sheets, 

envelopes, pens, on table c. 
Ash tray on table c. 
Candles on table c, out. 
Lamp up R., lit. 
Lamp up L. struck. 
Curtains and windows all 

closed. 
Glass off c, for tapping 



72 



Plays 30 minutes. 
ACT III. 

Scene. The Library. 

Thresk is sitting on conch l. with some legal papers, 
smoking a pipe, Hazlewood standing above him. 

Thre sk. You won't mind if I sit up for a little ? 
I have got to read these papers, and if I tried to do 
it in bed I should fall asleep in a minute. 

Hazlewood. Sit up, by all means. You will 
put the lights out, won't you ? 

Thresk. Certainly. 

Hazlewood. You really must catch the 8.45 in 
the morning ? 

Thresk. Yes, indeed. I have to be in Court at 
half-past ten. 

Hazlewood. Very well. I think I'll go to bed. 
Dick will be back in a minute, but you must send him 
away. 

Thresk. I will. 

(Hazlewood looks at Thresk, who is engrossed in his 
brief, goes a little R., then back.) 

Hazlewood. He has gone to see Mrs. Ballantyne 
home. 

Thresk. Under the circumstances a natural 
thing to do. 

Hazlewood. Yes, I suppose so. Well, good- 
night. 

73 



74 THE WITNESS FOR THE DEFENCE. 

Thresk. Good-night. 

Hazlewood. Yes . . . Well . . . good-night ! 
{Enter Dick, l.) Ah, Richard ! lock that door, 
will you. (Dick locks door, l.) Well, good-night. 

Dick. I'll come up in a minute. 

Hazlewood. You mustn't stay up. Mr. Thresk 
has some briefs to read. 

{Exit Hazlewood r.) 

Dick. I'm not going to interrupt you, Mr. Thresk 
(Dick goes up l., then to table up r., mixes whisky 
and soda, comes down 'R. , then to 'R. of tea table, tadking 
all the time.) But I must thank you again. I can't 
tell you what I owe to you. (Thresk gr tints. He 
is marking his brief with great slashes made in the 
margin with a blue pencil. Here and there he under- 
lines a sentence.) It would be impossible for me to 
make you understand how much happiness I get 
from seeing the haggard look of misery fade out of 
Stella's face and some sparkle of laughter return to 
her eyes. (Thresk, turning over page of brief, grunts.) 
I couldn't talk like this to any one else. But you 
are so sympathetic. 

Thresk. There's nothing like a lover. He'll find 
a kindly audience in a log of wood and sing his lady's 
praises to a toadstool. 

Dick {sits r. of tea table). Well, she's pretty 
wonderful, isn't she ? Honestly now, isn't she ? I 
feel coarse beside her, I tell you. {Drinks, puts 
glass on table.) I'm thirty years old. 

Threspc. From your style of conversation I find 
that difficult to believe. 

Dick. I've wasted thirty years before I met her. 
{Leaning back in his chair.) Just jogging along with 
the world a miracle about one, and not half an eye 
to perceive it. You know. 

Thresk. I don't. 

Dick. Did you have a talk with her to-night ? 
(Thresk goes on reading.) No, you didn't. I wish 



THE WITNESS- FOR THE DEFENCE. 75 

you had. My father didn't give you a chance. She 
noticed it. She said she would have hked to have 
had a talk with you, and hoped you could come and 
call on her to-morrow. 

Thresk. Impossible. 

Dick. I told her you were leaving early. 

Thresk. Where does she live ? 

Dick. Across the meadow over there. At a little 
cottage called " By-Lanes." 

(Thresk writes address down on top of his brief, hut 
as if he were making a note.) 

Thresk. " By-Lanes." Queer name ! 

Dick. Yes. (Thresk goes on reading.) {En- 
thusiastically.) Did you ever see a woman look so 
well in a grey frock ? Or in a white one either ? 
There's a soft blue shimmering thing she wears too I 
{Pauses, looks at Thresk, who is taking no notice.) 
Oh, well, perhaps I had better go to bed. 

Thresk. I think it would be wise. 

(Rises, takes glass, goes up r., puts glass on table, lights 
candle, comes down r., stops, looks at Thresk, comes 
across l.) 

Dick. You're awfully sympathetic, you know. 
{Puts candle down on tea table, draws chair close to 
Thresk, sits.) Why don't you get married ? You 
ought to, you know. It's a great mistake not to. 
(Thresk picks up Dick's candle and gives it to him. 
Dick takes it but doesn't rise yet.) Men run to seed 
so if they don't. 

Tpiresk. Are you going to bed ? 

Dick. Yes, I am. Good night. 

(Dick goes r. .4s he reaches door, turns'.) 

Dick. I say, did you ever see Stella in a riding 
habit ? 

Thresk. Go to bed. (Dick exits hurriedly R. 
with candle, closes door.) 



76 THE WITNESS FOR THE DEFENCE. 

{As soon as Thresk is alone his air of indifference 
changes to distress. He stands for a moment in 
doubt. Then he shrugs his shoulders, collects papers, 
pencil and red tape, takes them over and pitis them 
L. of c. table, turns on candles, puts pipe in ash 
tray, sits and starts to write. Taps on window at 
third line of letter, at finish of letter, as Thresk 
rises.) 

Thresk. By-Lanes. {He writes. A gentle tap- 
ping is heard at big bow window behind the curtains. 
Thresk does not notice it. It is repeated louder. 
Thresk looks up. It is repeated still louder. Thresk 
rises, draws curtains aside and looks out. With a whis- 
pered exclamation he opens the window. Stella 
passes quickly in. Thresk closes the window.) You t 
You are mad. 

(Thresk goes r. and locks doors, then r. of table c. 
Stella puts wrap on upper arm of settee l., then 
comes c. She does not speak until Thresk has 
come R. of table.) 

Stella. I had to see you alone. I was told you 
would be sitting up late here. Dick told me. 

Thresk. There was no need to come : I was 
writing to you. {Goes above table, gets letter, comes 
round l. of settee c.) 

Stella. Yes. I was sure of it. That's why I 
had to come. 

Thresk. You were sure, too, of what I was 
writing. 

Stella. Yes. 

Thresk. How were you sure ? 

Stella. This afternoon — you interrupted rne 
whilst I was speaking of the house we were going to 
take. You stood tapping the bowl of your pipe in 
your hand. I understood. 

Thresk. Well. I have written it. 



THE WITNESS FOR THE DEFENCE. 77 

{Offers letter.) 

Stella. No, I won't read it — not a word of it. 
{Kneels left knee on settee.) It has never been written. 
I came in time to prevent its being written. You 
only had an idea of writing and thought better of it. 
Say that ! You are my frienzl. It has been never 
written at all. 

Thresk. It has. I am sorry. (Stella sit^ c. 
of settee.) I saw you this afternoon as you used to be 
before troubles and sorrows had caught you and 
marked you. To-night I see the stricken woman of 
the tent in Chitipur. I am very sorry. 

Stella. I knew you would be. You are not hard. 
You can't be. You must come close, day by day, 
in your life to so much that is pitiful. One can talk 
to you and you'll understand. This is my first chance, 
the first real chance I've ever had, the very first. 

Thresk. I know. But I don't ask you to give 
it up. I only ask you to tell your lover the truth. 
For unless you tell him now, you never will, and all 
your life you'll hve in fear. Tell him the truth. 
Stella {defiantly). He knows it. 
Thresk. No. 

Stella. He does ! He does ! 
Thresk. Hush ! 

Stella. We are safe here. No one sleeps on this 
side of the house. 

Thresk. You sent me this note as soon as you 
discovered I was here. {He takes note from his 
pocket.) If he knows the truth, why did you write 
it? 

Stella. I said why. They were setting a trap. 

Thresk. If your lover knows the truth, why 

should you fear a trap ? If he knows the truth, 

why are you here now ? {Pulls chair R. of tea table 

forward. Sits.) 

Stella. Because— I told you— this afternoon— 
you seemed to be threatening me. . That was all I 



78 THE WITNESS FOR THE DEFENCE. 

had in my mind. You stood knocking the pipe in 
your hand. It seemed a sort — of — threat. 

Thresk. Why, if he knows the truth, should I be 
threatening you ? 

Stella. You — confuse me. It's so easy for you 
to do it— to make me look guilty. That's what you 
are trained to do. I came here because I thought you 
wanted to prevent my marriage. 

Thresk. \"\^hy, if he knows the truth, should I 
wish to prevent the marriage ? I left my pipe be- 
hind me in the tent on the night I dined with you. 
He doesn't know that. I came back to fetch it. He 
doesn't know that. You were standing at the table 
with the rifle in your hand. That's what your lover 
doesn't know. That's what I recalled to you this 
afternoon. That's what I meant to recall." 

Stella. Did you ? Of course — I was getting the 
rifle ready for the next day. I told you so, I think, 
at the time. 

Thresk. Suppose that at Bombay, at the time, 
I had told the Court how I had returned ? — how 
I had found you with the rifle in your hands ! 

Stella. But you didn't. Of course you didn't. 
Why should you, since that had nothing at all to do 
with what happened. We know what happened. 

Thresk. Yes. You and I know. 

Stella. Yes. And Dick. And all the world. 
There was a thief who tried to steal. {Looking 
straight in front of her.) 

Thresk. Oh ! [Rise, away l. a little.) 

Stella. He pushed an arm under the tent wall 
— a lean brown arm, with a hand delicate as a woman's. 

Thresk. There was no thief. There was a man 
delirious with drink. There was you with the 
bruises on your throat and the unutterable misery 
in your ej^es, and a rifle in your hands. There was no 
one else. Come, Stella, [Up to Stella.) you must 
tell him ; or m.ake an excuse and break off your 
engagement. 



THE WITNESS FOR THE DEFENCE. 79 

Stella. And after you have been here ? It would 
be a confession ! 

Thresk. Confess, then ! 

Stella. I have nothing to confess. 

Thresk. Then I have. 

Stella. You ! What have you to tell ? That 
3'ou left the camp to catch your train — that — he — saw 
you off at the edge of the camp — and that's all. 

Thresk. Oh, much more ! That I lied at the 
trial. (Stella rises.) That's what I have to say. 
That the story which secured your acquittal was 
false. That I made it up to save you. That I told 
it again this afternoon to give you a chance of slipping 
out from an impossible position — a chance you refused 
to take. 

Stella. You are trying to frighten me. (Backs 
a liitlc.) 

Thresk. I ? 

Stella. You almost did. You would have, if I 
didn't IvUGv/ you. 

Thresk. Does an^/body know anybody ? 

Stella. Do you realize what it would mean to 
you if it v/ere ever really known that you had lied at 
the trial ? 

Thresk. Yes. 

Stella. Your ruin. Your absolute ruin. 

Thresk. Worse than that. 

Stella. Prison ? 

Thresk. Yes. 

Stella. And you would run the risk of the truth 
becoming known by telling it to so much as one per- 
son. (Goes down \.) No, no ! Another, perhaps 
— not you ! (Turns up to R. of table c.) You have 
had one dream all your life — to rise out of obscurity, 
to get on^in the world, to become famous, to hold the 
high positions: You have lain down late and risen 
early ; and you've got on. Well, are you the man 
to throw away ail this work, all this success, now that 
they touch fulfilment ? You are on the chariot. 



80 THE WITNESS FOR THE DEFENCE. 

Will you step down from it and run tied to the wheels?- 
Will you stand up and say before the world, " There 
was a trial. I perjured myself." No ! Another, 
perhaps. Not you. Not you. (Sits r. of table c.) 
Thresk (goes up to above table c). You are not 
very generous, Stella. For if I lied, I saved you by 
the lie. 

Stella. I know. I am not ungrateful. I sent 
you a little word of thanks when you gave me my 
freedom. But it w^on't be of very much value to me 
if I lose — what I am fighting for now. 
Thresk. So you use every weapon ? 
Stella. Yes. 

Thresk. But this one breaks in your hand. The 
thing you think it incredible that I should do, I shall 
do none the less. 

Stella. You save me one day to destroy me the 
next. 

Thresk (sits). No. I had no wish to stir the mud 
in this pool up again. Had I known why Hazlewood 
wanted me I should have refused to come. But 
I am here. The trouble's once more at my door, 
but in a new shape. There's this young man, young 
Hazlewood, I can't forget him. You will be marrying 
him by the help of a lie I told. (Movement from 
Stella.) Oh ! I have never felt any remorse for 
the lie I told — never a twinge, I should tell it again to- 
morrow were the trial to-morrow and you a prisoner. 
But when you use the lie to marry a man and keep 
him in ignorance of the truth, why then I am bound 
to say no. And for your sake, too ! Make no mis- 
take. Pettifer was near to the truth to-day ; I've 
turned him away from it. Yes, but another may be 
near the truth to-morrow, and he may reach it. 
Suppose it comes out, is brought to your husband ?' 
' (Rises, comes down -L.,puts chair back toR. of tea table.) 
I don't lay claim to any fine principles. I simply 
say I have got it in my bones that since you won't,, 
■ I must tell the truth now, as I once told the he. 



THE WITNESS FOR THE DEFENCE. 81 

Stella (rising). Very well. You must know 
the whole truth then. Now you only guess at it. 
Thresk. Tell it me. 

Stella. I will ; I meant to kill myself, (r. 
of settee c.) 

Thresk. Good God ! It had come to that ? 
[Sits L. of settee c.) 

Stella. Yes. And you had your share in bring- 
ing it to that. 
Thresk. I ? 

Stella. You sit here in judgment. But you must 
shoulder your portion of the blame. I am not alone. 
I am not alone ! 
Thresk. I am ready to shoulder it. 
Stella {sits on settee r. of Thresk). We were to 
have been married once — you and I — nine years ago. 
But we were both poor, and poverty and a wife 
together would have hampered you too much. So I 
was sacrificed. [Puts her l. hand on Thresk' s r. 
shoulder.) And you cared for me too. It hurt you to 
let me go. It really hurt you very much. Oh, don't 
I remember our reasonable talks ? The hindrance 
marriage was, and "he travels fastest who travels 
alone " and a rich husband was waiting some- 
where for me. Up on the downs there on summer 
days with the sky above us, and both of us young, 
we talked that sound, level, abominable common 
sense. For I pretended to agree with you — with a 
smile upon my face — what else could I do ? — while 
all my soul screamed out against us both as traitors. 
For I loved too — but with what an aching heart. 
Well, we parted — you to your work of getting on, 
Harry, I to think of you getting on without me at 
your side ! Some friends took me out to India. 
I was a young girl, lonely and very unhappy, and as 
young girls often do, who are lonely and very un- 
happy, I drifted into marriage. Then I was beaten 
— despised — ridiculed. For six years that lasted. 
And it might have gone on, had not one Httle thing 
happened to push me over the precipice. 



82 THE WITNESS FOR THE DEFENCE. 

Thresk. What was that ? 

Stella. Your visit to me at Chitipur. Wfiy 
did you come ? {Movement from Thresk as if 
he is about to explain : sJie stops him.) Oh, but I know ! 
Yes. You came because of that one weak soft spot 
of sentimentaUsm there is in all of you, the strongest, 
the hardest. You heard of me in Bombay, and it 
came over you that j^ou would like to see how the 
woman you had loved looked after all these years : 
whether she retained her pretty ways, whether she 
missed you. You wanted to fan up into a mild, harm- 
less fiamic the ashes of an old romance — warm your 
hands at if for half an hour, recapture a savour of 
dim and pleasant memories [Rises, goes a Utile r.) 
and then go back to your own place and your own 
work, untouched and unhurt. 

Thresk. And that's why I came to Chitipur ? 

Stella. Yes. (Up to R. of settee c.) But I couldn't 
be left untouched and unhurt. You came, and all 
that I had lost came with you, came in a vivid rush 
of bright, intolerable m-cmories — summers here, 
women friends, dainty and comfortable things, and 
days of great happiness, when it was so good to be 
alive and young. And yoit were going back to it all 
— straight by the night mail to Bombay, straight 
from the station on board your ship. Oh, how it 
hurt to hear you speak of it. I couldn't endure it ! 
The blows, the ridicule, the contempt— I determined 
should com.e to an end that night, and when 3^ou 
saw me with the rifie in mj- he, n :1s, I was going to 
end it. 

Thresk. And then ? 

Stella. And then the stupidest thing happened. 
I couldn't find the box of cartridges. I got nervous 
and flurried. And it had all to be over and done with 
before he came back. And I couldn't find the cart- 
ridges. I heard you say good night — the last words 
I wanted to hear from any one — and then I d'^^ find 
them, appropriately enough, on the table vvi r the 



THE WITNESS FOR THE DEFENCE. 83 

whisky stood. I hurried, but just as I was pushing 
one of them into the breach of the rifle he stood in the 
doorway. 

Thresk. Yes, yes ! 

Stella. He swore at me. He asked me roughly 
why I didn't shoot myself and rid him of a fool. I 
stood without answering him. That always maddened 
him. I didn't do it on purpose. I had become dull 
and slow ; and in a fury he ran at me with his fist 
raised. I recoiled — he frightened me — and then, 
before he reached me — yes ! I remember that he 
stood and stared at me stupidly for a second. I had 
just time to believe that nothing had happened and 
to be glad, and to be terrified of what he would do to 
me. And then he fell and lay quite still. 

Thresk. And you ? What did you do ? 

Stella. I said I would tell you all the truth. I 
think that I was numbed. I went to bed. Does 
that sound very horrible to yon ? (Goes down a little 
to below armchciiv r.) I had one clear thought only — 
that it was all over. I slept. [Sits.) Yes, that's 
the truth. I did actually sleep. [Her hezd falls hack, 
worn out, and she closes her eye^ : pause. Thresk 
rises, goes to her and tjiiches her on the l. arm.) 

Thresk. Stella ! 

Stella [she takes hold of the lapels of his coat) . Now 
answer me truly. If you still loved me, would you, 
knowing this story, refuse to marry me ? 

Thresk. No. I should not. 

Stella. Then why shouldn't Dick marry me ? 

Thresk. Because he doesn't know this story. 
(Goes c.) 

Stella (rises). Yes, yes. There's the flaw in my 
appeal to you. I know. You are quite right. I 
should have told (Takes handkerchief from her bodice.) 
him. I should tell him now. But I daren't — not yet. 
I have tried to — oh, more than once. Believe that, 
Harry ! (Thresk up to settee.) You must believe it. 
But I couldn't. I hadn't the coura2;e. You will 



84 THE WITNESS FOR THE DEFENCE. 

give me a little time, won't you ? Oh, not long. 
(Stella kneels. Thresk sits c.) I will tell him — of 
my own free will — very soon, Harry. But not now. 
I can't ! I can't ! I can't ! (Her l. arm on Thresk's 
knee. She sobs ; pause.) 

Thresk (trys to soothe her, strokes her hair). There's 
another way. You have said a good many hard things 
to me, Stella — some true, some untrue. And the un- 
true things you wouldn't have said, if you had stopped 
to ask yourself one question. 

Stella. What question ? 

Thresk. Why I missed my steamer at Bombay. 

Stella. You missed it on purpose ? (Looking 
up to Thresk's face.) 

Thresk. Yes. I didn't come to Chitipur on any 
sentimental journey. I asked after you in Bombay. 
I was told that you were married. It was hinted to 
me that you were illtreated. I came to find out for 
myself, and if the report was true, to take you away. 

Stella. You ? 

Thresk. Yes, I ! 

Stella. To take me back with you to England ? 

Thresk. Yes ! 

Stella. Out of pity ? [Kneels hack a little.) 

Thresk. No, not out of pity. I wanted you. 

Stella. You wanted me ? Oh, why couldn't 
you have told me on that night ? Just to know that 
you really wanted me — what a difference that would 
have made. 

Thresk (rises, goes l.). I had not five minutes 
with you alone. 

Stella. Oh, if I had known ! If I had known ! 
(Rising.) 

Thresk. I thought I would get a chance to let you 
know. I left my pipe behind. 

Stella. To come back and tell me ? 

Thresk. Yes ; but he was close upon my heels. 
I could say nothing except that I would write to you 
from Bombay. You had the rifle in your hand. 



THE WITNESS FOR THE DEFENCE. 85 

Oh, my God, if I had dreamed of what was in your 
mind ! 

Stella. You couldn't have suspected. 
Thresk. I thought I should be leaving you with 
him just for four days— just the time for a letter to 
reach you and for you to slip out one morning when 
you were free and travel down to Bombay. 

Stella. And before you could write 

Thresk. The news came. I was lunching with a 
friend at the Club. I was going to write that night. 
The boat was already steaming through the harbour. 
And then over the tape the news came. 

Stella. Thank you. (Touches Thresk's arm.) 
You would have ruined yourself for me. For i 
would have meant your ruin. 

Thresk. Ruin's a large word. 

Stella. But afterwards ? After the trial ?' I 
never heard from you ! . . 

Thresk. You disappeared. I asked your solici- 
tors for your address. They refused it. I tried to 
find you. I never did. 

Stella. Yes. I gave orders. (Crosses l. to below 
table L.) I never thought that you would want to see 
me. I imagined you had come forward just for the 
sake of old memories. 

Thresk. No. . 

Stella. Why have you told me this? (I p 
to Thresk.) 

Thresk. I want to prepare you. There's a way 
out of this trouble— the honestVay for both of us. 
(His hands on her arms.) To make a clean breast of it 
together, and together — take what follows. 

Stella. No, no. (Turns, goes and sits on settee 
l.) 

Thresk. I won't leave you to stand alone— you 
can't be tried again. That's sure. You've been 
acquitted. 

Stella. But vou ? 

Thresk (chair" r. of tea table). Yes. Well— 1 



86 THE WITNESS FOR THE DEFENCE. 

take the consequences. I doubt if they'd be so very 
heavy. There'd be a certain amount of sympathy. 
And afterwards — it would be as though (Sits, and 
takes hold of Stella's hand, which is on the table.) 
you had sHpped down to Bombay and joined me — 
we can make the best of our lives together. 

Stella. No, no. That's your ruin. You put me 
to shame. (Buries her head on top arm of settee.) 

Thresk. You give up your struggle for a footing 
in the world — that's what you want, isn't it ? I 
give up my success. We'll make something of our 
lives, never fear ! (Rise above Stella.) But to 
marry this man for his position and he not knowing 
— Oh, my dear, I know how you're driven. But it 
won't do ! It Vv'on't do ! (Hand on her head. 
Long pause.) 

Stella (holding Thresk's hand). I must tell 
you something which I had meant to hide from you. 
The last little thing which I've kept back. It will 
hurt you, I am afraid. (Turns her head aivay from 
Thresk.) It isn't because of his position that I chng 
to Dick. I want him to keep that — yes — for his 
sake. I don't want him to lose by m.arrying me more 
than he needs must. 

Thresk. You care for him then ? You really 
care for him ? 

Stella. So much that if I lost him now, I should 
lose all the world. (Thresk goes l.c. Stella waits 
till he stops, to go on speaking.) You and I can't go 
back to where we stood nine years ago. You had 
your chance then, Harry, if you had wished to take it. 
But you didn't wish it ; and that sort of chance 
doesn't often come again. Other chances — like it — yes. 
But not quite the same one. I am sorry. But you 
must believe me. If I lost Dick, I should lose all the 
world. That is my one poor excuse. 
Thresk. Excuse ? 

Stella. Yes. I meant Dick to marry me pubhcly. 
(Rise.) But I saw that his father shrank from the 



THE WITNESS FOR THE DEFENCE. 87 

marriage. I grew afraid. I t^ Id Dick of my fears. 
He banished them — I let him b n sh them. 

Thresk. What do you mean ? 

Stella. We were married privately in London a 
week ago. 

Thresk. Oh ! Oh ! (Goes r.c. Stella follows.) 

Stella. Oh, I know that it was wrong. But I 
was being hunted. They were all like a pack of 
wolves after me. Dick's father had joined them. I 
was driven into a corner. I loved Dick. They 
meant to tear me from him without any pity. I 
clung. Yes, I clung. 

Thresk. You tricked him. 

Stella. I didn't dare to tell him. I didn't dare to 
ose him. 

(Ring bells.) 

Thresk. You tricked him. 

Stella. You accuse me. You condemn me. 

Thresk. Yes, yes. A thousand times, yes. 

Stella (strong). Because I tricked him, or because 
I married him ? 

Thresk. Yes, there's truth in the distinction. 
It's because you married him. 

Stella. But I'll tell him now, Harry. I'll tell 
him now. 

Thresk. What's the use ? You give him no 
choice. You can't set him free. 

Stella. Oh yes I can — and I will, I promise you, 
if he wishes it. I can set him free quite easily, quite 
naturally. Any woman could. So many of us take 
things to make us sleep. 

Thresk. Good God ! you mustn't think of it ! 
(Takes Stella by the arms.) 

.4 rattling at door R. Both look at one another. 
Thresk goes r. Knock at door. Thresk points 
to windoic;, motioning to Stella to hide. She shoikes 
her head.) 



88 THE WITNESS FOR THE DEFENCE. 

Hazlewood. Are you there, Thresk ? 
Stella. Let him in ! 

(Thresk opens the door, come hack r.c.) 

(Enter Hazlewood r. ; shuts door.) 

H.\ZLE\VJOD (bshw arm-zhaiv r.). I came down 
because I thaught that I heard — [He sees Stella.) 
Yon here — it this hour — with him. You were per- 
suading him to hold his tongue. 

Stella. No. He was persuading me to tell the 
truth. And he has succeeded. 

Hazlewood. You confess ? 

Thresk. It's not so bad as you hope for, Mr. 
Hazlewood. 

Hazlewood. Richard must be told. 

Stella. Yes. I claim the right to teh him. 

Hazlewood. I refuse the claim. I shall go 
straight to him now. (Moving r.) 

Stella. Take care, Mr. Hazlewood ! After you 
have told him, he will come straight to me. Take 
care ! Take care ! 

Thresk. Yes. Let Mrs. Baliantyne tell him ! 

Hazlewood. But will she ? 

Stella. You shall hear me. To-morrow morning. 
I'll tell him here. And if he wishes it, I'll set him 
free and never trouble either of you again. (Goes 
up and gets wrap.) 

(Warn curtain.) 
(Thresk comes to Hazlewood.) 

Hazlewood. Will she ? 

Thresk. God help her, yes. (Hazlewood exits ; 
shuts door.) I'll see you home. 

Stella. No, please ! (Comes l.c.) I'd rather 
go alone. Be here when I tell him. Will you ? Oh, 
I shall so want a friend. 

Thresk. Yes. I will be here. 



THE WITNESS FOR THE DEFENCE. 89 

Stella. What will Dick say ? — at his first words 
we shall know. 
Thresk. Yes. At his first words. 
Stella. N6 warning to him ! Not a hint ! I 
must know the truth, the inmost truth of him. 

Promise me ; or to-night I 

Thresk. No ! " 

Stella. I must know what he thinks and what 
he feels. 
Thresk. I promise. 

Stella. I tricked him. You spoke the truth. 
I let him marry me, not knowing. Will he forgive. 
(She comes up to Thresk.) You would ! 

Thresk. Yes. But 

Stella. Well ! 

Thresk. I am not so young as he. 
Stella. Oh, Harry ! (She goes tip to l. of table 
c, holds out her left hand.) Good night ! (Thresk 
goes up, takes her hand. 
Thresk. Good night. (As they are going up l.c.) 

Curtain on last word. 



SPECIAL NOTES FOR ACT IV 



Stage. Hand Props. 

Morning Po.st on R. of table c. Bag off l.u., Dick. 
II letters and salver on l. 

of table c. 
Parcel on small table l. 
All curtains open, windows 

open. 
Door L. unlatched. 



90 



Plays 1 8 minutes. 
ACT IV 

Scene. The Library. Next morning. 

As curtain rises Hazlewood, seated at writing-table c, 
is counting over the letters which he has written. 
Hubbard l, stands beside him with a salver. 

Hazlewood. Nine, ten, eleven. That's all. [He 
places Utters on the salver and leans back.) There 
must be an answer to the problem, Hubbard ? 
Hubbard. No doubt, sir ! 

Hazlewood. But as far as you arc concerned, 
you can throw no light upon it. 
Hubbard. Not a glimmer, sir. 
Hazlewood. That is unhke you, Hubbard. For 
sometimes after I have been deliberating for days over 
some curious and perplexing conundrum, you have 
solved it the moment it has been put to you. 
Hubbard. It is very good of you, sir. 
Hazlewood. Yet you are not clever, Hubbard . 
Hubbard. No, sir. 

Hazlewood. Not at all clever, Hubbard ? 
Hubbard. No, sir ; I know my place. 
Hazlewood. You must have some wonderful gilt 
of insight which guides you straight to the mner 
meaning of things ? • i ' n 

Hubbard. It's just common sense, sir, that s all. 
Hazlewood. But I haven't got it, Hubbard. 

91 



92 THE WITNESS FOR THE DEFENCE. 

Hubbard. You don't need it, sir. You're a 
gentleman. Are these all the letters, sir ? 

Hazlewood. Yes, Hubbard. 

Hubbard {as he goes towards the door sees bundle of 
pamphlets on table). I beg your pardon, sir, but shall 
I unpack this parcel ? 

Hazlewood. What parcel, Hubbard ? 

Hubbard. Another i,ooo copies of your Prison 
Walls, sir. 

Hazlewood. Well— er— no, Hubbard, no. I am 
not sure that that parcel is not what we might almost 
call one of my mistakes. 

Hubbard. I am sorry to hear that, sir. 

Hazlewood. I think you shall burn it, Hubbard. 

Hubbard. Certainly, sir. 

Hazlewood. I should burn it at once, Hubbard — 
somewhere where it won't be noticed. 

Hubbard. Yes, sir, I'll burn it under the shadow 
of the south wah. 

{Enter Thresk, r.) 
( Exit Hubbard, l., with parcel and letters on salver.) 

Hazlewood. Ah, Mr. Thresk ! {Rises, comes c.) 
You have had breakfast ? 

Thresk. Thank you. I am rather late I'm afraid. 

Hazlewood. I am glad, if it means that you slept 
well. 

Thresk. I can't say that I did that. Yesterday 
I interfered. {Sits r.). 

Hazlewood. I hope you don't regret that you did 
that. 

Thresk. I do. For from that interference irre- 
vocable things may follow which I would give a world 
to hinder if I could, and I can do nothing. 

Hazlewood. There are laws one cannot tamper 
with, laws born in the blood of each natural man. 

Thresk. Is that the voice of Mr. Hazlewood ? 

Hazlewood. Oh, I cannot argue the point. I am 
relieved this morning from a strain of suspense. {Sits 



THE WITNESS FOR THE DEFENCE. 93 

C. ) To have refused my consent to Richard's marriage 
with Stella Ballantyne on no other grounds than that 
social prejudice forbade it, would have seemed a com- 
plete reversal of my whole theory and conduct of hfe. 
I should have become an object of ridicule. People 
would have laughed. I have heard their laughter all 
this month. Now, however, once the truth is known, 
no one can say 

Thresk. Mr. Hazlewood ? 

Hazlewood. Well ! 

Thresk. Do you mean to say that if after Mrs. Bal- 
lantyne's story is told, her relations with your son 
come to an end, you mean to make that story public ? 

Hazlewood. Of course. 

Thresk. You mean to publish why Dick doesn't 
marry her ? 

Hazlewood. Certainly. 

Thresk. You can't be thinking of it. 

Hazlewood. But I am. I must do it. There is 
so much at stake. 

Thresk. What ? 

Hazlewood. The whole consistency of my life. I 
must make it clear that I am not acting upon preju- 
dice or suspicion or fear of what the world will say, or 
any of the conventional reasons which might guide 
other men. 

Thresk {rises). So for the sake of your reputation 
for consistency you will make a very unhappy woman 
bear obloquy and shams which she might easily be 
spared. 

Hazlewood. You put the case very harshly. I 
have no wish to be cruel. But you must really con- 
sider my point of view. 

Thresk. I do ; and on consideration I think it's 
horrible — horrible in its vanity. 

(Hubbard enters l. and announces " Mrs. Pettifer.") 
Hazlewood. Half-past ten, too ! We must get 
rid of her. 



94 THE WITNESS FOR THE DEFENCE. 

{Exit Hubbard l.). 
Enter ^Irs. Pettifer, l. ; comes l.c.) 

Mrs. Pettifer. I have only come in for a moment, 
Harold. I have something to say to you. 

Hazlewood {rises, comes to Mrs. Pettifer, smilin g). 
Say it, Margaret. You cannot annoy me this morn- 
ing. I am myself again. (Thresk gets paper ; goes 
and sits in window). The brain, the sedulous active 
brain, resumes its work to-day asking questions, 
probing problems. I rose early, Margaret, and walk- 
ing in the fields amongst the cows before breakfast 
a most curious speculation flashed into my mind. 
Hubbard cannot answer it, neither can I. How is it, 
I asked myself 

{Call Stella.) 

Mrs. Pettifer. Harold ! Stop talking and listen 
to me. {Sits r. of tea table). They have taken St. 
Ouentin's I hear. 

Hazlewood. Who ? 

Mrs. Pettifer. Dick and Stella Ballantyne. 

Hazlewood. Nothing of the sort ! They went 
to look at St. Ouentin's. A very different thing. 

Mrs. Pettifer. Well it will be St. Ouentin's or 
some other house in Little Beding. And — to put it 
plainly — I withdraw my opposition to the marriage. 

Hazlewood. You, Margaret ! You of all people I 
Why ? 

Mrs. Pettifer. First of all Robert came home 
yesterday afternoon frcm his interview with Mr. 
Thresk absolutely satisfied. And Robert's judgment 
I hive found to be generally sound. In the second 
f la e, I propose to go on living at Little Beding and I 
do ;t {Enter Dick, l.c, cimes down l.) think that it 
would be very comfortable to go on hving here with 
Dick and Dick's wife as strangers. So I give in. I 
am going to call on Stella Ballantyne this afternoon. 

Dick. Thank you ! Aunt Margaret ! You will 



THE WITNESS FOR THE DEFENCE. 95 

be very welcome. I knew you were all right, really 
vou know. Put on a few frills at first, but all women 
do that. 

Mrs. Pettifer. Dick ! 

Dick {sees Thresk). Hulloa ! Good morning. 
{Goes R. Thresk goes down to join him). I thought 
you were going to catch the 8.45. 

Thresk. I was lazy. I shall go up later in the 
moniing. I have asked Hubbard to look me up a train. 

Dick. I suppose fellows'll go to quod right and 
left this morning because you aren't there to defend 
them. 

Thresk (r. of table c). I am not practising in 
the Police Courts to-day. 

Hazlewood. Did you ride this morning, Dick? 

Dick. No. Stella sent word over that she was 
tired. I must trot across the meadow and see how 
she is. 

Hazlewood (c). Oh, she is coming here this 
morning. 

Dick. Is she ? She didn't say so to me, and I was 
the last to see her yesterday evening. Did you ask her 
to come ? 

Hazlewood. Oh no, she's coming of her own 
accord. 

Dick. Sent v/ord over, eh? Stella tired. Mr. 
Thresk lazy— our little dinner party seems to have 
knocked you all out, doesn't it ? 

Hazlewood. Not me, Richard ! I walked out 
in the fields— oh yes, and a most curious problem pre- 
sented itself to my mind. Hubbard quite failed to 
throw any light upon it. I myself am, I confess, be- 
wildered. And I wonder if a fresh young mind can 
help us to a solution. 

Dick {sits on settee c). The fresh 3^oung mind will 
have a go at it. Fire away, father. 

Hazlewood. How is it, I asked myself 

Dick. That's your old style. , . 

Hazlewood {Id Thresk). Exactly. How is it 



96 THE WITNESS FOR THE DEFENCE. 

that with all the progress of civilization and the ad- 
vancement of science a cow gives no more milk to-day 
than she did at the beginning of the Christian Era ? 

Dick. A fresh young mind can answer that ques- 
tion in two shakes. It is because the laws of nature 
forbid. That's your trouble, father. That's the 
great drawback to sentimental enthusiasm. It's 
always up against the laws of nature. 

Mrs. Pettifer {rise). Dick, every now and then 
you talk common sense. 

Dick. Yes — I get it from Hubbard. 

Mrs. Pettifer. Good-bye ! 

Hazlewood. You are going, Margaret ? Well — 
will you come back and lunch ? I think that I should 
like to see you at lunch time. 

Mrs. Pettifer. Yes, I can manage that. But 
won't this afternoon do ? I will come to you after I 
have paid my call. 

Hazlewood. No ! Come before ! I mean come to 
luncheon. 

Mrs. Pettifer. Very well. Good-bye, Mr. Thresk. 
We have not been introduced. But Harold always 
was impossible. 

{Exit Mrs. Pettifer, l., followed by Hazlewood, who 
bustles her off. He closes door.) 

Dick. There seems to me to be another problem 
waiting for a fresh young mind to solve. {Rises, goin^ 

L.C.) 

Thresk. I think you told me yesterday that you 
were thirty. {Coming l.c.) 

Dick. Yes. I am coming to that alarming point 
when {Sits R. of tea table.) cricket ends and golf begins. 

Thresk. Thirty's a good age. {Sits on l. arm of 
settee c.) 

Dick. It looks back on youth. 
'. Thresk. I should be glad to be sure that it did. 

Dick. Why? * 



THE WITNESS FOR THE DEFENCE. 97 

Thresk. Youth is a graceful thing, of high-sound- 
ing words and impetuous thoughts, but Hke many 
other graceful things it can be mighty hard and mighty 
cruel. 

Dick. It is supposed to be generous. 

Thresk. And it is — to itself. Generous where 
its sympathies are enlisted, generous so long as all 
'goes well with it ; generous because it is confident of 
triumph, certain of success. But its generosity is not 
a matter of judgment, it does not come from any 
outlook upon a world where there is a good deal to be 
-said for ever3^thing. It is a matter of physical health. 
And once affronted, once hurt, youth finds it difficult 
to forgive. 

Dick. And why do you say this to me ? {Rises, 
'backs a little.) 

Thresk {puts his left hand on Dick's r. shoulder). 
Yes, it is rather an impertinence, isn't it ? But I 
was looking into a case late last night where irrevoc- 
able things are going to happen if youth will not 
•forgive. 

Dick. I don't think it's an impertinence. But 

(Stella appears l.u. Stays outside window.) 

Thresk. Well ? 

Dick. There's Stella coming across the lawn. 
^( Up L.c. Turns.) Your case has not yet come on ? 
Thresk. Oh no, I shall be in time for that. 

{Exit Dick. Talks to Stella in window.) 

{Enter Hubbard, l.) 

Hubbard. There's a train to London, sir, at 
twelve. 

Thresk. Thank you. I will try to catch it. 

Hubbard. You must leave here, sir, by a quarter 
to. 

Thresk (Dick goes off l.u.).' Tha:nts! Can you 
send me to the station ? 

Hubbard. Yes, sir, certainly. 



98 THE WITNESS FOR THE DEFENCE. 

{Exit Hubbard, l.) 
(Stella comes in alone, l.c.) 

Thresk (c). Good morning !■ I am sorry. You 
have had a troublesome night to get through, I'm 
afraid. What has become of Dick ? 

Stella (l.c). I sent him to my house to fetch 
my bag for me. I wanted to speak to you for a 
moment alone. {Sits r. of tea table.) 

Thresk. Yes. 

Stella (l.c). You have not warned Dick of 
what I am going to say to him ? 

Thresk. No. How could I, unless I told hrni 
what it is left for you to tell. 

Stella. You are sure, quite, quite sure ? You 
haven't uttered one word which might persuade Dick 
to say to himself this morning, " If I show the repulsion 
which I feel, she will take her hfe " ? 

Thresk. No. Not a word to suggest that you 
would do that. (Stella puts her gloves on tea table.) 

Stella. Thank you ! Thank you 1 I shall be 
listening for — his first words, before he has calcu- 
lated, before he has reasoned. It would never do 
for Dick to sacrifice himself, just because he sus- 
pected that unless he did I should not go on hving. 
No, that would never do. I should be certain to 
find it out ; and then the — remedy — would only 
have been needlessly delayed. 

Thresk. Stella, you mustn't take that remedy. 
It's too big a price — the price you mean to pay. 

Stella. It's no price at all, my friend. You 
hear it said that a woman will do anything to keep 
the man she loves. She'll do a good deal— most 
things if you Hke. But sometimes love runs still a 
little stronger. And then it craves only that the 
loved one shall get all he wants to have. If Dick 
wants his freedom, I too want that he should have 
it— the price doesn't count. 



THE WITNESS FOR THE DEFENCE. 99 

Thresk. Stella, that mustn't be. I have lain 
awake all night with one thought gathering strength 
in my mind, a thought terrible to me. I blundered 
at Bombay two years ago and the price of that 
blunder may be your hfe to-day. {Goes R.c.) 

Stella. You blundered ! You were a good friend 
to me, Harry. {Holds out her R. hand. Thresk 
takes 'it ) 

Thresk. I meant to be, but I was not. I should 
never have come forward ; I should never have told 
my story in the witness-box. I should have let your 
counsel develop his case on the hne he had chosen, 
the line of self-defence. You would have been ac- 
quitted, and rightly acquitted. But I didn't know 
your story and I knew that mine must save you. 
And it did. But it was a blunder ; and I shiver at 
what may be its consequences to-day. 

Stella {rise). Mine was the blunder. (Hazle- 
wooD goes up outside L. meets Dick.) I should have 
said what I had to say a month ago— that's all that 
was needed. But I didn't say it. So 

Thresk. No ! 

Stella. You can't prevent me. 

Thresk. I can try. 

Stella (Dick enters l.u., joins Hazlewood ; they 
enter together L.c. Hazlewood comes down l. Dick 
L.c). Wnhat can you do ? {A movement of despair 
from Thresk.) Nothing! Hush! (Dick enters.) 
You found it, Dick ? 

Dick. Yes. 

Stella. Thank you. {Taking bag.) 



Stella Dick 

'" o 

Thresk ^ 



Hazle. 



100 THE WITNESS" "FOR THE T)EEENCE:" 

Hazlewood. Ah !■ Good morning 1 Mrs. Bal- 
lantyne has something to say to us,, I beheve ? 
Stella. Yes. 

Dick. Wait a moment, will you? {To Stella.) 
Stella, you came back here last night after I had 
t aken you home ? 

Hazlewood. That really has nothing to do 

Dick. I am sorry, father. But I want to know 
exactly how we stand, 

Stella. Yes. I came back. I ran across the 
meadow. I waited outside until there was no longer 
any sound of voices. Then I rapped upon the 
window. 
Dick. And Thresk let you in ? 
Stella. Yes. 

Dick. You came to see him ? 
Stella. You told me he would be sitting late 
over his brief. 

Dick.. Yes, I did. And I take it that while you 
were here, talking to Thresk, my father interrupted 
you ? 

Hazlewood. I heard voices, and so naturally I 
came down. 

Dick. Quite so, father. I am not blaming any- 
body. And because my father interrupted you last 
night, you have something to tell me this morning. 
Stella. No. I had made up my mind before 
Mr. Hazlewood came down. 

Hazlewood. Ah ! But we have no proof of that. 
Dick. I didn't ask for one. 
Stella. But it's fair to say this. I should have 
chosen a moment when you and I were alone, but for 
Mr. Hazlewood's interruption. 

Dick. Yes. Very well. Now, what is it ? {Sits 
R. of tea table.) 

Stella. Two years ago I was tried for my Hfcv. 
I was acquitted. It was supposed that' a thief was' 
responsible. (Hazlewood sits on settee l.) It was 
not a thief.' It was I. • • ■ ' 



THE WITNESS FOR THE DEFENCE. lOlV 

Hazlewood. You hear, Richard ? 

Dick. Hush ! Will you tell me everything^ 
please ? (Stella appeals to Thresk.) No, you, 
Stella, please. 

Stella. I was going to kill myself. I {She turns 

to Thresk.) Oh, tell him! 

{Ring hells.) 

Dick. No, you, please. 

Stella. He came back, too soon. He ran at me. 
I was crazy with fear. I had the rifie in my hands. 
It all came upon me in a second , that this was the 
way. I used it — {Drops hag.) now what do you say ? 

{She is leaning forward intently. Thresk is close to 
her. Dick doesn't answer. Stella sinks in her 
seat.) 

Dick. Is that everything ? {Rise.) 

Stella. No, not quite ! I was acting instinc- 
tively in self-defence. But there was just one httle 
moment when I knew what I was going to do. You 
could hardly measure it by time ; yet to me it was 
distinct enough, a fragment of a second when he re- 
coiled, knowing what I was going to do, just as I 
suddenly knew it, a moment when he seemed to, me 
to bleat — to bleat for mercy. 

(Dick goes up to Stella, leans over her. Thresk 
goes lip R. a little. Sits r. of table c.) 

Dick. Why didn't you tell me this at the beginning, 
Stella ? 

Stella {cat:hes hold of Dick's hand). Oh, 
Dick, I tried to tell you. t made up my mind so 
often ! But I had never the courage ! I hid it all 
from you — -yes. But oh, you meant so much to me. 
I longed for you to want me as I wanted you. {Rises ; 
comes down a little. Struggles to he calm.) But I 
don't ask for your pity. You mustn't be merciful. 
I don't want mercy, Dick. That's of nd use to me. 



102 THE WITNESS FOR THE DEFENCE. 

I want to know what you think — just what you really 
and truthfully think. That's all. I can stand alone 
— if I must. Oh, yes, I can stand alone — quite 
easily — you mustn't think that I should suffer so 
very much — I shouldn't — I shouldn't. 

{She is sobbing. Comes to settee c. Sinks on it, buries 
her face in her arms on L. arm.) 

Hazlewood. You hear that, Richard ? 
Dick. Yes, I hear it. But you see, father, this 
is my wife. 

{He lifts her up.) 

Hazlewood. Your — no ! no ! {Rises.) 

Dick. This is my wife. Perhaps you remember 
that I have rooms in London ; that I went to London 
last Tuesday. So did Stella. {His arm romtd Stella.) 

Hazlewood. But you heard what she said. She 
has tricked you. 

Dick. No ! father. Stella has been trying to 
tell me something — often during the last weeks. I 
knew what it was — before you turned against her, 
before I asked her to marry me. She didn't trick 
me. I knew very well. 

Hazlewood. But 

Dick. This is my wife. 

{Count 4. Enter Hubbard l. Dick takes Stella l. 
of seat.) 

Hubbard {to Thresk). The carriage is at the 
door, sir. You have not too much time if you wish 
to catch your train. 

Thresk. Then TH go. (Hubbard goes out l. 
Thresk comes to Hazlewood. Dick and Stella 
get c.) Good-bye, Mr. Hazlewood. I am very glad 
that you asked me here to give my advice on your 
collection. I was inclined yesterday to take a differ- 
ent view of your invitation. But I did perhaps what 



THE WITNESS FOR THE DEFENCE. 103 

I may suggest that you should do. I accepted the 
situation. 
Stella. Oh, thank you — thank you. 

{Comes over, takes Stella's and Dick's hand. Hazle- 
wooD up above to a table. Stella crosses Dick, 
who gets R. of her.) 

Stella. But it's not good-bye to me — to us. 
You are going to see us again. You are big enough 
for that ? 
^ Thresk. No, I'm not going out into the night. 
I'm going back to London. You know my address, 
{Goes L.) and if you don't Mr. Hazlewood does. 
(l. of back of settee.) No. 9, King's Bench Walk — 
that's it, isn't it ? Good-bye. 

Curtain on last word. 



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